Bulanjdjan Lucy Yarawanga is an experienced Gurr-goni textile artist, who predominantly works at Bábbarra Women’s Centre in Maningrida. She works with both lino and screen printing techniques, with her textile designs often referencing her ancestral stories, including various depictions of Bawaliba (Djinkarr spirit woman). 

Lucy’s painting style, like her personality, is bold and to the point. As well as her native Gurr-goni language – one of the least commonly spoken languages in Arnhem Land, Lucy also speaks another eight Maningrida languages.

Lucy has been exhibiting in group shows with Babbarra Women’s Centre and Maningrida Arts & Culture over recent years. 

Bawaliba homeland will be Lucy's first solo exhibition showcasing a large body of works on paper depicting the lives of Bawaliba at their homeland near Djinkarr, Central Arnhem Land.

“I have painted the Bawaliba homeland. For people who don’t know Bawaliba, they are sometimes cheeky sometimes good spirits that live near Guyun and Djinkarr. Their homeland is next to my country Narnak.

Bawaliba used to live in caves in the wet season, but in the dry season they lived in paper bark huts, just like our old people. “

“Bawaliba he's dreaming of my mum. And I got it, the spirit of my mother. They go out every night looking for food. And they come back with lots of food, sharing, telling each other stories or sleep...Sometimes they good spirits. The good spirits, we love them”.

VIEW THE EXHIBITION CATALOGUE HERE