Anniebell Marrngamarrnga facts for kids

Anniebell Marrngamarrnga is an amazing Aboriginal Australian artist. She comes from a place called Maningrida in the Northern Territory of Australia. She is famous for making big, detailed sculptures out of plant fibres.

Anniebell Marrngamarrnga's Life Story

Anniebell Marrngamarrnga was born in Maningrida on December 31, 1967. She belongs to the Kuninjku language group. This group is part of the Darnkolo clan and the Yirridjdja moiety. A moiety is like a big family group in Aboriginal culture.

She learned how to weave from her mother, Nancy Djulumba. Her mother passed away in 1995. Anniebell first made things like coiled baskets and woven bags. Later, her husband, Dick Nadjolorro, taught her how to paint.

How Fibre Sculpture Began

In the early 2000s, a new type of art started among Kuninjku women. Marina Murdilnga, whose father was a bark painter, led the way. She learned weaving from her mother. Then, she created a new style of flat fibre sculptures. These were made using a special knotting method. Marina's art was very popular. It inspired many other Kuninjku women to try similar art.

Anniebell's Special Art: The Yawkyawk

Anniebell Marrngamarrnga started making fibre sculptures around the early 2000s. Her favorite subject is the yawkyawk. These are female spirits who live in the water. Yawkyawk spirits live in freshwater streams and pools. You can find them in Western Arnhem Land.

They are shown as half-woman and half-fish. They have long hair and a fish-like tail. People often compare them to mermaids from European stories. The yawkyawk spirit in Anniebell's art lives in a waterhole. This place is called Kubumi, near the Mann River. This special place is part of her husband's Dreaming. The Dreaming is a very important part of Aboriginal culture. It tells stories about creation and the land.

Making Fibre Sculptures

Anniebell starts by building a frame out of bamboo. She shapes it like the yawkyawk spirit. Then, she weaves plant fibres onto this frame. The main fibre used for weaving is from the pandanus tree (Pandanus spiralis).

Women are usually in charge of collecting and preparing these fibres. This job takes a lot of effort. After the rainy season, new leaves are gathered from the top of the pandanus tree. Different plants, berries, and tree barks are collected. These are used to make natural dyes. The pandanus strips are soaked in warm dye for many hours, sometimes even days. After soaking, they are hung in the sun to dry. This whole process takes several days. It needs a lot of patience and skill.

Anniebell Marrngamarrnga still lives and works in Maningrida. She is with her husband, Dick Nadjolorro. She continues to create her beautiful yawkyawk fibre sculptures. She is known as a very talented artist. Her work is recognized in her community, across Australia, and around the world.

Anniebell Marrngamarrnga's Art Career

Anniebell Marrngamarrnga's art has taken fibre sculpture to a new level. She uses bright colors in each part of her yawkyawk sculptures. Her artworks are especially large and very detailed.

Her art is part of many important collections. It has been shown in many art exhibitions. These shows have been held both in Australia and in other countries.

Art Shows: Solo Exhibitions

• 2009- Anniebell Marrngamarrnga & Tjanpi Desert Weavers, Michael Reid at Elizabeth Bay, Sydney, NSW
• 2008- Anniebell Marrngamarrnga, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne, VIC
• 2007- Anniebell Marrngamarrnga, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne, VIC

Art Shows: Group Exhibitions

• 2020- RESILIENCE: The power of the past today - Maningrida, Aboriginal Signature Estrangin Fine Art, Brussels, Belgium
• 2020- Kun-waral Spirit Shadows, Salon Project Space, Darwin
• 2018- Mardayin, Art Kelch, Freiburg, Germany
• 2018- Djang in Fibre: From Bim to Form, Aboriginal & Pacific Art Gallery, Waterloo, NSW
• 2018- Barring-bul (Many Walks), Trinity Gallery, University of Melbourne
• 2017- 34th National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Arts Awards, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, NT
• 2017- Into the Water curated by Maningrida Arts & Culture, Tactile Arts, Darwin, NT
• 2016- Whos Afraid of Colour?, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, VIC
• 2014- Mayh, Body & Spirit in Kunwinjku Fibre Art, Aboriginal & Pacific Art Gallery, Sydney, NSW
• 2012- Maningrida – contemporary work from arnhem land, Gallery Ecosse, Sydney, NSW
• 2012- Dream Catchers, Coo-ee Aboriginal Art Gallery, Sydney
• 2011- The Dreaming Changes Shape, Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne, Australia
• 2011- Lovelace, Powerhouse, Sydney, Australia
• 2010- Best of Maningrida, Annandale Galleries, Sydney, Australia
• 2009- Beautiful Beasts, Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, NT
• 2009- Maningrida Group Show, Maningrida Arts & Culture Gallery, Darwin, NT
• 2009- Orche - A Study in Materiality, Short Street Gallery, Broome, WA
• 2009- Survey from Maningrida Arts & Culture, The Mossenson Gallery, Perth, WA
• 2009- Togart Contemporary Art Award, The Toga Group, NT
• 2009- Pandanus Spiralis, Aboriginal & Pacific Art Gallery, Sydney, NSW
• 2008- Lost & Found, Tarrawarra Biennial
• 2008- Womens show, Vivien Anderson Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
• 2008- Palya Art at Mary Place, Mary Place, Sydney, NSW
• 2008- Interwoven, Indigenart, Perth, WA
• 2008- Melbourne Art Fair, Art Fair, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne
• 2007- Culture Warriors, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT
• 2007- Selected new works from Maningrida, Maningrida Arts & Culture, Darwin
• 2007- 24th Telstra National & Torres Strait Islander Art Award Exhibition, Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, NT
• 2007- Womens show, Vivien Anderson Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
• 2006- 23rd Telstra National & Torres Strait Islander Art Award Exhibition, Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, NT
• 2003- Weave, Federation Centre for the Arts, Bundoora Homestead, VIC

Art Collections

• National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, Australia
• Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, Australia
• The Toga Group Collection, Australia
• Aimee Proost Private Collection, Queensland, Australia
• Axel Arnott Collection
• Charles Darwin University Art Collection, Darwin, Australia