Marrawuddi Arts & Culture

Kinga (Saltwater Crocodile) The artist has depicted kinga, the saltwater or estuarine crocodile. Kinga is a highly respected and feared animal that has significance as a food source and as a totem to many of the Kunwinjku people (the Aboriginal people of Western Arnhem Land). Kinga are estuarine reptiles and Read more…

Namarnkol (Barramundi) “Namarnkol, the Barramundi, is a very important fish for us Bininj (Aboriginal people). Barramundi are found in the ocean, in floodwaters, and in freshwater billabongs, rivers and creeks. In the old days, people used to spear them with djalakirradj (three-pronged fish spears) and walabi (traditional triangular nets). Nowadays, we Read more…

Bird in a tree

Lorrkon The Lorrkon is a hollow log coffin used by the people of Arnhem Land, Australia. It consists of a tree trunk hollowed out by termites and painted by a clan member of the deceased, with the bones placed inside. The Lorrkon ceremony is the final ceremony in a sequence of Read more…

Lorrkon The Lorrkon is a hollow log coffin used by the people of Arnhem Land, Australia. It consists of a tree trunk hollowed out by termites and painted by a clan member of the deceased, with the bones placed inside. The Lorrkon ceremony is the final ceremony in a sequence of Read more…

Manjabu (Fish Trap) Manjabu are traditional fish traps, formed in cone like shapes they were commonly used in running water to trap the fish when the current was being pushed back the other way, resulting in trapped fish. These were important and easy to use in order to bring food home for family. Though easy Read more…

Lorrkon The Lorrkon is a hollow log coffin used by the people of Arnhem Land, Australia. It consists of a tree trunk hollowed out by termites and painted by a clan member of the deceased, with the bones placed inside. The Lorrkon ceremony is the final ceremony in a sequence of Read more…

Waterhole at Yikarrakkal This painting represents a sacred waterhole outside Maningrida.  It is located at a place called Yikarrakkal and is said to be inhabited by Yawkyawk. Yawkyawk are guardians of sacred waterholes and appear as young women with fish tails. Yawkyawk (freshwater mermaid) start out in a tadpole-like form, Read more…

Dillybag The dilly bag was traditionally used as a woven collecting basket. These baskets or bags made from varied natural materials, such as sand palm, pandanus or vine were and sometimes are, used to collect a variety of foods such as fish caught in conical fish traps, collections of yams Read more…