Babbarra Fabric | Ngaldadmurrng (Saratoga) by Carol Liyawanga | cotton drill | gold & navy on grey | 2.6m

This artwork shares the Saratoga Dreaming, following Murdulngu (Saratoga) as it journeys along creeks and rivers in the Mularra songline. From Malmyangarnak Billabong to Mirrigatja, the Saratoga once owned these waters before Barlangu the shark arrived, travelling from the east, north, and west. During a time of high water, Barlangu attempted to move upstream but could not succeed. Though associated with the Murruggun clan, Barlangu’s origins stretch far to the south, linking many clans through this shared story.

With permission from her elders, Carol Liyawanga Campion brings this ancestral knowledge to life through her art. "I am proud of my first design. I want to keep this design for the future, for my children and grandchildren, so they remember this story — a big part of the Mularra songline," says Carol.

Bábbarra Women’s Centre, based in Maningrida, Arnhem Land, is a women-led Indigenous art centre celebrated for its hand-printed textiles that share ancestral stories. Established in 1983, the centre brings together women from many language groups to create fabrics that depict Country, bush foods, and ancestral beings. Using techniques like linocut block printing, screen printing, and natural dyeing, each piece is handmade on-site, ensuring cultural authenticity. Bábbarra’s textiles empower artists and connect their stories with audiences across Australia and the world.

Details:
2.6 x 1.5m
100% cotton drill
Screen printed by hand on the 9 mtr yardage table at Bábbarra Designs, Maningrida.