Roland Burrunali

The artist has painted two Yawk Yawk guarding a sacred water hole. Yawk Yawk are sometimes described as ‘mermaids’ who live in trees and water in special places in western Arnhem Land. The waterhole is filled with mandem (water lilies) and the tree growing from it is Manbelk (pandanus). Yawk Yawk start out in a tadpole-like form and grow fish tails as they mature. They spend most of their time in the water but are able to sit on the banks of billabongs. When fully grown they are able to change their tails into legs and walk on land to forage for food. It is believd that Yawk Yawk transform into dragonflies at the end of the wet season, which signifies to the binninj (aboriginal people) the rains have finished.
Yawkyawk kamarnburren kambebme kore Karlkke beh.wanjh kunberd kadjordmen yiman djenj wanjh yawkyawk kabirriyimerran.bedda kabirrini kore kukku kukadjid.dja bu kabirriwernhdjordmen wanjh kunberd kayimerran kundad bokenh bedberre wanjh kabirriwohre manberrk manme kabirriyawan.Dja bu mandjewk kaburnbun wanjh
kabirrikukborledkerren kabiriyimerran djalangkarridjdjalangkarridj wanjh bininj kandibengdayhke bu mandjewk burnbom dja djenj kabirrimulewan.