Lindsay has painted wakih (Leptopalaemon gagadjui) swimming in abillabong. Wakih is a kind of freshwater shrimp which is found only in West Arnhem Land, hence the species name “gagadjui”, derived from Gagudju, the Indigenous name for the language and people of Kakadu. Bininj (Aboriginal people) still catch it today, in billabongs and waterholes where there is a deep section. People catch wakih with a throw net, or put a piece of meat on the end of a fishing line and entice them into the shallows where they can be speared. The Old People used walabi, a net of bush string on a triangular wooden frame.
Wakih ngalbu kayo kore kubowinjku kukku Bokenh nawu mayhngalkudji wakih ngalbuyika marddarr bokenh bu ngarringun. Dja bubolkkime djal wakih ngarrimang ngarringun. Korroko dabborrabbolkbirrimangi wakih walabi dja bolkkime net nawu balandakenh balandamarnbom kumekke ngarrire kore manlabbarl kore kahdjorlok kumekkengarrimang ngalbu wakih.
This painting needs to be framed or stretched. It’s also being sent direct from the artist at a remote art centre, Injalak Arts, in west Arnhem Land, in the NT. Please note there is only one mail plane a week that takes the artwork to Gunbalanya. The tracking information is then received a week later when the mail plane returns so often the paintings are delivered before we receive the tracking information. Please expect a slightly longer wait for this very special artwork to arrive.