LIVING WATERS

Living Waters

In Living Waters, artists Maureen Ali, Jennifer Brown, Nola Garrba, Lorna Jin-gubarranguyja, Sylvia Marrgawaidj, Anniebell Marrngamarrnga, and Indra Prudence present a powerful body of work that speaks to the deep interconnection between culture, Country, and ancestral knowledge.

Working from Maningrida Community and the surrounding homelands in central Arnhem Land, these artists maintain and reinterpret the enduring weaving traditions of fish trap and net making. These skills are passed down through generations of women and intrinsically tied to the seasonal rhythms of freshwater and saltwater life.

Made from natural fibres collected, prepared, and woven by hand, these sculptural works reflect the ebb and flow of tidal waters, where fish are carried in with the rising tide and caught as it recedes. Found in both fresh and saltwater, the woven forms are both utilitarian and spiritually significant. 

The presence of Yawkyawk, female ancestral spirits that inhabit fresh water, billabongs, and rock pools, further reflects the spiritual significance of these places. Together, they speak to a deep cultural understanding of water as both a life source and a sacred space where practical knowledge and ancestral stories flow together. 

Request Preview for the Group Exhibition from Maningrida Art Centre