Kulabbarl is what we Bininj (Aboriginal people) call a billabong, where the flow of a river is blocked and builds up in the rain. Lots of fish are concentrated there, especially when the water starts to recede in the dry season. In small billabongs, we catch things like burd (freshwater bream), marrngunj (small Eel-Tailed Catfish), wakih (yabby), kedjebe (file snakes) and ngalmangiyi (Long-Necked Turtle). And in big billabongs we go and get fish like namarnkol (Barramundi), kuluybirr (Saratoga) and manmakkawarri (Catfish). Sometimes we see kinga (saltwater crocodiles). There are manimunak (magpie geese), djilikuybi (whistling ducks) and lots of other birds which we eat at billabongs.
In this work by Jabis barrmundi, long-necked turtles, shrimp and a lone water monito are composed in the artist's signature patterned style.
This painting has been framed under glass and now measures 65 x 90cms.
