Kuninjku artist, Deborah Wurrkidj, was born in 1971 at Maningrida in north-central Arnhem Land. As an artist, she relishes new art forms while maintaining her strong clan traditions. Since 1991, Deborah has worked alongside her mother, Helen Lanyinwanga, and sister Jennifer Wurrkidj at Bábbarra Women’s Centre (https://babbarra.com/) in Maningrida as a painter, printmaker, woodcarver and weaver and has become known for her lorrkkon (hollow logs) and fibre baskets. Deborah’s intricate designs are illustrative of the artistic innovation that has occurred in Maningrida since the 1990s. These designs further represent her deep connection to country and cultural knowledge, evocative of her surrounding natural environment.
Deborah also took part in the ANKAAA Arts Worker Extension Program in 2014 (http://ankaaa.org.au/), where she was taught of the administrative and business side of the art world. She stated, “I want to be a leader and help others understand more about the business side of making art. I enjoy talking and explaining to others about my work here at Bábbarra Designs and Maningrida Arts and Culture. I have enjoyed looking at different galleries. I enjoy using the laptop and storing photographs and doing emails and Facebook. I have enjoyed making friends with other artists and listening to stories about their work.”
Claire Nicholl, a manager at Bábbarra designs, stated in 2014, “Deborah identified that she wanted to do the AWEP course with ANKAAA in 2013. Deborah was instrumental in the following up application process and very keen to participate in the AWEP program. The course has not disappointed. Deborah eagerly awaits the training weeks and has visibly grown in her ability to take her story far and wide. It has given her enormous pride to be able to share her story of her long time work at Bábbarra amongst friends and strangers.“
Deborah has exhibited widely since 2001, throughout Australia as well Europe and the United States, and is represented in most of Australia’s state gallery collections. In 2016, she received an award at the Northern Territory Textile Awards, alongside associates Raylene Bonson and Helen Lanyinwaga. Deborah has also featured as one of the senior artists, mentoring the junior artists, in a group exhibition, Báb-barra: Women’s Printing Culture at The Cross Art Projects (2017) [http://www.crossart.com.au/current-show].
Reference List:
Association of Northern, Kimberley and Arnhem Aboriginal Arts. “Bábbarra Designs: Arnhem Land.” ANKAAA. Last modified 2015.
http://ankaaa.org.au/art-centre/babbarra-designs-arnhem-land/.
Bábbarra Women’s Centre. “Deborah Wurrkidj.” Bábbarra Women’s Centre. Last modified 2017. https://babbarra.com/artist/deborah-wurrkidj/.
Bawinanga Aboriginal Cultural Centre. “Bábbarra Women’s Centre.” Bawinanga Aboriginal Cultural Centre. Last modified 2017.
https://www.bawinanga.com/what-we-do/arts-culture/babbarra-womens-centre/.
Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair. “Deborah Wurrkidj.” Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair. Last modified 2017.
http://www.darwinaboriginalartfair.com.au/the-art-centres-4/babbarra.
Davidson, Christina. “Deborah Wurrkidj.” In ANKAAA Arts Worker Extension Program 2014. Northern Territory: Tim Fairfax Association, 2014.
Maningrida Arts and Culture. “Deborah Wurrkidj.” Maningrida Arts and Culture. Last modified 2017. https://maningrida.com/artist/deborah-wurrkidj/.
