Bark Painting of Yawk Yawk by Dion Wurrkidj

Dion Wurrkidj

Dolobbo Bim (bark paintings) is a contemporary cultural practice that pays homage to the ancient paperbark shelters where Indigenous artists painted designs, sharing stories across the stone country and floodplains of Kakadu. 

During Kudjewk, the monsoon season spanning December to March, Indigenous artists will gather bark from stringybark or paperbark trees. This time of year is ideal for harvesting due to the bark's pliability, minimising the risk of cracking. To preserve the tree's health, artists carefully slice two vertical lines before peeling the bark, ensuring continued water and nutrient flow. After removal, debris is stripped, and the bark undergoes curing over a fire, enhancing flexibility and aiding in flattening. Weighted and left to dry for weeks, the bark is then primed for painting, representing a meticulous process honouring both tradition and sustainability.

Yawk Yawk in Kunwok/Kunwinjku languages means a young woman, and also refers to the mermaid-like spirits that live in the deep water holes. When no one is looking they can transform their tails into legs so they can climb out of the water and forage for food. By the end of the Bangkerreng season, as the wet season ends, the Yawk Yawks metamorphose into dragonflies, which tells the dry season is starting. 

Dimensions: 70cm H x 33cm W | Bark 

This artwork has been purchased directly from an Aboriginal artist in Kakadu National Park or Arnhem Land. Ochre Art Gallery is committed to supporting artists, their families and the local community.