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). 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 41 x 61 cm | Medium Paper | Catalogue # 3353-16 | Year 2016

Artist  Michael Naborlhborlh

Michael Naborlhborlh grew up in Gunbalanya and is a founding member of Injalak Arts. Michael was one of the original screenprinters at Injalak, working alongside Gabriel Maralngurra, Ted Naborlhborlh, Neville Namarnyilk, Kennedy Girrabul, Harold Nayinggul, Laurie Nadjamerrek and Ray Young. They set up the screenprinting facility with adult educator Wendy Kennedy in a shed across the road from the council office. When the Injalak building was constructed in 1989, they moved over. At this point he also became more heavily involved in painting and began leading tours of Injalak Hill. 
Michael has worked as a ranger for Warddeken at Manmoyi and Kabulwarnamyo. He worked in bushfire prevention and feral pig culling. He then worked with the outstation resource centre Demed, providing support to outstations with activities such as food deliveries, road building and house construction. From 2009 he worked with Earth Connect and Territory Alliance constructing houses in Gunbalanya.  

Michael paints in the classic kunwinjku style of single-line rarrk (hatching) that has been practised on the rock walls of west Arnhem Land for centuries. Michael has a well-honed sense of composition and form, and his meticulous rarrk imparts an almost shimmering quality to his paintings. Michael can be found painting under the verandah at Injalak most days or leading tours up Injalak hill during the dry season. 

further details

Size 41 x 61 cm
Medium  Paper
Catalogue # 3353-16
Year 2016