• 3. Mandjabu (Fishtrap)
  • 3. Mandjabu (Fishtrap)
  • 3. Mandjabu (Fishtrap)

Sandra Richards

3. Mandjabu (Fishtrap)


Regular price   

"This artwork is all the fish and turtle going inside the fishtrap. They went in and they couldn’t go out. The bottom of the fishtrap is blocked. There’s a hole where they go in. The fishtrap I have painted was sitting in the water long time, and the little seaweed came in. I’ve painted saratoga, barramundi, and lots of little fish, nail fish, long neck turtle and short neck turtle. Theres a little log that the turtles are going inside, and there’s crayfish and prawn, and leeches on the side. All the different fish going inside. We take it out and cook them all on the fire. We eat all the fish, and the short neck and long neck turtle too. This is our ‘safety net’. If we can’t get fish on a line, we go and get this mandjabu."

  • Ochre and Ink on Arches Paper
  • Dimensions: 106 x 76cm (unframed), 120 x 910cm (framed)
  • Cat No. 1836-24


Sandra Richards is the second eldest daughter of the acclaimed artist, songman, and cultural leader Jack Nawilil. She resides at her outstation, Bolkdjam, year-round, raising the next generation to be culturally strong. Sandra has learnt art making under the tutelage of her father, mastering the art of bark painting and depicting Balngarra clan totems Mannarlinj (Bush potato), Kunkarninj (Digging stick) and Kunkarlewobe (Freshwater fish trap)


Maningrida Arts & Culture is a pre-eminent site of contemporary cultural expression and art-making, abundant with highly collectable art and emerging talent. Through their homelands resource organisation, Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation, artists turned an art trade that began just over 50 years ago into a multi-million dollar arts and cultural enterprise.

Maningrida Arts & Culture supported hundreds of artists on their homelands, more than 20 artworkers, held 20 exhibitions annually, won prestigious awards, and enjoyed the international fame and success that the boom in the Aboriginal art market of the 1990s and 2000s enabled. 

Here at Laundry Gallery we always endeavour to get your stunning purchases to you as quickly and safely as possible! With that in mind, please note:

1. Monday is the day we do our shipping/postage each week unless Express Shipping is requested at the time of purchase. If for some reason there is a delay and your item isn’t able to be shipped the Monday after you purchased it we will be in touch.

2. All artworks shipped from Laundry Gallery are insured and require a signature on delivery. A tracking number is be provided as part of our shipping process to the contact details you provide.

3. Whilst we use Australia Post services where possible, for large, heavy or high value artworks we use a third party courier service. We will advise you of this at the time of purchase, or get in touch as soon as possible if on reflection using a courier seems more appropriate for your artwork. Once we have organised a quote it will be the courier who gets in touch to organise delivery times closer to the date, but we are always here to support you throughout the process! 

4. If the artwork you have purchased is part of a current or future Laundry Gallery exhibition, we will need to wait until after the exhibition period has ended before we can send the artwork to you.

5. International Customers are currently unable to make a purchase online however we do ship worldwide. Please contact us for an invoice and to arrange a shipping quote.

Visiting Darwin or a local? Local pick up available during normal opening hours. 

We are a very small team and shipping from Darwin can take some time. Thanks for your patience!