Kulabbarl is what we Bininj (Aboriginal people) call a billabong, where the flow of a river is blocked and builds up in the rain. Lots of fish are concentrated there, especially when the water starts to recede in the dry season. In small billabongs, we catch things like burd (freshwater bream), marrngunj (small eel-tailed catfish) wakih (freshwater shrimp), kedjebe (file snakes) and ngalmangiyi (long-necked turtle). And in big billabongs, we go and get fish like namarnkol (barramundi), kuluybirr (saratoga) and manmakkawarri (catfish). Sometimes we see kinga (saltwater crocodiles) or kumoken (freshwater crocodiles). There are manimunak (magpie geese), djilikuybi (whistling ducks) and lots of other birds which we eat at billabongs.

Manbu kulabbarl ngarriyime bu kudjewk mandjewk nawern kadjakdung wanjh kabore kore mankabo. Wanjh bu kabongurdme kabodadjme wanjh kamarnbun manlabbarl. Kumekke djenj kadjaldi kore kulabbarl. Kulabbarl karri djenj yiman burd marrngunj wakih kedjebe ngalmangiyi kore kulabbarlyahwurd. Dja kore kulabbarlkimuk ngarrire ngarrimang namarnkol kuluybirr manmakkawarri yika ngarrinan kinga kayo kore kulabbarl. Dja kani manimunak djilikuybi dja nawern nawu mayhmayh kani kore kulabbarl.

Size 38 x 51 cm | Medium Paper | Catalogue # 91-22 | Year 2022

Artist  Austin Djorlom

Austin Djorlom is the son of Leonie and Eric Djorlom and a sister of Kira Djorlom. 

Austin was taught how to paint by his father, Eric Djorlom, and his stepfather Gary Djorlom. Leonard Djorlom his cousin brother also showed him how to paint. Austin has a son with Agnes Bangarr called Tyson Djorlom who he will teach to paint one day. 

further details

Size 38 x 51 cm
Medium  Paper
Catalogue # 91-22
Year 2022