Gapuwiyak Culture & Arts

Harry Guyibirrirrr’s mother was Florence M. Wananpuyngu a famous weaver from Gapuwiyak. His father was Ian Wulwul Malibirr a well known painter and carver. He lived most of his life in the bush and at Mapuru. Harry lives in Doyndji homeland. He has learnt to paint and craft from his father and older brothers. Harry also work as a ranger looking after Country.

Ngadiyali (Russell) Wanapuyngu lives in Gapuwiyak Community with his sister Lucy and her family. Their dreaming is the Wagilak Sisters and he often paints this story. Ngadiyali’s homeland is Ngilipitji. Djardi Ashley the famous painter is his elder brother. He used to sit with his older brother, Djardi who used to tell the stories. Djardi taught Ngadiyali first for ceremony before he taught the Gamanungu (sacred clan designs). When Ngadiyali was very young his uncle would sing and Ngadiyali would play Yidaki on a hose. His uncle then gave him a real Yidaki and said: “Can you play for me?”. Now Ngadiyali knows the stories for many tribes. Ngilipitji is an important place. Ngadiyali can paint the designs for this place, like Larr the stone spear head. He also paints Yarrpany, the Dhuwa guku (honey). Ngadiyali is a ceremony man and sings the songlines for Gandjalala – the creator ancestor for Wagilak. He says: “When there are any Dhuwa ceremonies I will be there.”

Mavis Djulibing Marrkula was born on the 4 June 1955 in Arnhemland. Her language is Gupapuyngu. She is from the Marrkula clan. Her mother taught her how to weave. Mavis is a traditional land owner of Gapuwiyak. She likes going out collecting pandanus and dyes. She also likes to collect bush foods like yams, wild potatoes and other bush foods. Mavis likes to go out with her friends, like Lesley Wininingu and Helen Djaypila. She loves weaving baskets and mats and can also make string bags.

Anna Ramatha Malibirr was born in Gapuwiyak where the old hospital used to be and went to school until she was 17 years old. Her mother is Lucy Malirrimurruwuy Wanapuyngu and her father is Ian Wurruwul Malibirr. Anita’s subsection is Yirritja and her skin name is Gutjan. Nancy and Lucy taught her how to weave baskets when she came to Gapuwiyak. She weaves baskets, mats and string bags and also collects seeds to make necklaces. Anita is mother to one boy, who was born in 2005.

Mary Rruwaypi Guyula’s mother is Burrayburray Guyamirrilil and Djukamawuy Guyula is her father. Her sisters, Helen Djaypila, and Wininingu and Dorothy are all well known fibre artists as well. Their mother was their teacher.

Marcia grew up at Mapuru homeland. She sat with her grandmothers at Mapuru and they were her teachers for fibre art. Marcia sold her first baskets when she was about 20 years old. After that she made bulpu (dilly bags) and mats and handbags. Marcia likes doing all sorts of fibre art.