Brandon Dirdi (Billabong Scene)
Paper - (30 x 40 Arches Paper)
Various edible fish and reptiles are found in the billabongs, watercourses and wetlands that occur throughout Arnhem Land in the ‘Top End’ of Australia. The artist has painted namarnkol or barramundi, the renowned game fish. Namarnkol grow to extraordinary sizes and are excellent eating. The namarnkol can be found in saltwater as well as freshwater billabongs and rivers. These fish have significance as food and as totems and are most easily caught from the end of the monsoon (March -April) until the humid “build up” season (October). In the background are freshwater lilies, which are edible for humans and fish.

Djawida Nadjongorle (Ngalkordowh - Brolga)
Paper - (30 x 40 Arches Paper)
The ngalkordow or brolga is a ground dwelling waterbird that is found throughout the western Arnhem Land region. The area is inhabited by Kunwinjku speaking Aboriginal people. The Brolga is painted in the ‘x-ray’ style, with internal organs showing and the rest of their bodies are covered with rarrk or cross-hatching. Brolgas are a favorite subject of paintings from the Gunbalanya (Oenpelli) area. The brolga is a prized food source for Aboriginal people and the best time of the year to hunt ngalkordow for their flesh and their eggs is kudjewk, the wet season, when they nest. The grass is modje, which grows on the wetlands and the seeds of which are eaten by birds and animals.

Djawida Nadjongorle (Kunj (Kangaroo))
Paper - (30 x 40 Arches Paper)
The artist has painted kunj (kangaroo) in the ‘x-ray’ style with internal organs showing. The kunj features often in bark paintings and works on paper and are significant animals in Kunwinjku culture. They are prized game as well as being totems for some clans. The kangaroo is herbivorous.

Don Namundja (Namaradakka - Nail Fish)
Paper - (30 x 40 Arches Paper)
The artist has painted a freshwater scene showing namarddakka, or nail fish. Nail fish have strong spine-like protrusions resembling nails that have given it its name. It can be found in the billabongs and streams of Arnhem Land and is popular bush tucker. Surrounding the namarddakka is mandem or water lily, the bulb and stems of which are also collected for bush tucker.

Eric Djorlom (Namarrkon- Lightning Man)
Paper - (30 x 40 Arches Paper)
Namarrkon, Lightning Man is an important ancestral being in the mythology of the Kunwinjku people of western Arnhem Land. This spirit helped create the country during the Dreamtime. Namarrkon creates thunder by throwing stone axes down onto the earth. These axes can be seen protruding from various parts of his body, particularly the joints. An arc of lightning encircles his body. Namarrkon is especially active during December, when the season of kurnumeleng is characterised by spectacular pre-monsoon storms and then from January to March during kudjewk the ‘wet’ season in northern Australia. Namarrkon is also a guardian of the laws.

Ezariah Kelly (Yawk Yawk)
Paper - (30 x 40 Arches Paper)
Yawk yawk is the Kunwinjku term used for young women but also for female water spirits that have fish tails as shown in this painting. Sometimes they are described as ‘mermaids’ who live in trees and water in special places in western Arnhem Land. Yawk Yawk start out in a tadpole-like form, as they get older they grow fish tails and spend most of their time in the water but are able to sit on the banks of billabongs. When fully grown they are able to change their tails into legs and walk on land to forage for food. They also change into dragonflies at the end of the wet season, which signifies to the binninj (aboriginal people) the rains have finished. Yawk Yawk are said to have namarnkol (barramundi) as pets and that Ngalyod the rainbow serpent serves as their protector. These spirits are guardians of sacred waterholes.