Yawk Yawk are female water spirits that closely resemble the European concept of mermaids. Half spirit, half fish, they may entice unwary fishermen beneath the water of the lagoons that are their domain throughout Arnhem Land. They may have long hair like trailing water weeds and can take on the features of fish or the body of a water snake. When fully grown Yawk Yawk can leave their water holes to forage for food by changing their fishtails into legs to walk on dry land or assume the shape of a dragonfly to fly. Baby Yawk Yawk can take the form of dragonfly larvae. Yawk Yawk figures are also closely associated with Ngalyod, the Rainbow Serpent creation ancestor, and can be associated with sorcery.

Gloreen Campion

Gloreen Campion, born 1978, is a Rembarrnga language artist from Malnyangarnak outstation, about a two and half hour drive from Maningrida township. She predominately resides at Ankabadbirri outstation with her husband Hedley Brain.

She is the daughter of acclaimed artist Wally Lipuwanga and is know for her 3D woven fibre art depicting yok (bandicoot), djamo (dogs) and galawan (goanna). She has previously worked at the women’s centre at Buluhkaduru Outstation.

Hedley, born 1970, is the brother of renowned Maningrida artist Lena Yarinkura. He is a Kune speaker. He has many careers in his life working as a CDP supervisor and is a keen and able gardener. He has incredible knowledge of native bush-foods of Arnhem Land and their uses.

Gloreen is also a weaver. They regularly create for Maningrida Arts & Culture and on occasions travel to Darwin. If they are staying for a period of time they bring their varied and beautiful artworks to Songlines.

Gloreen Campion Past Exhibitions

• 2022 Top End Bugi, Koskela, Sydney NSW
• 2020 Top End Bugi, Koskela, Sydney, NSW
• 2011 The Dreaming Changes Shape, Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne, Australia, NULL
• 2009 Works in Season:, Works in Season: Bark Paintings, Carvings & Weavings, Hogarth Galleries, Sydney, NSW
• 2008 Weaving around the traps, Weaving around the traps, Chapman & Bailey, Melbourne, VIC
• 2007 Lorrkon, spirit beings, Lorrkon, spirit beings and Fibrework, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne, VIC
• 2006 William Mora, Sculptures from Maningrida, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne, VIC
• 2004 Maningrida fibre art, Maningrida Fibre Art, Rebecca Hossack Gallery, London, UK
• 2003 weave, Federation Centre for the arts, Bundoora Homestead, VIC
• 2003 An exhibition of Rembarrnga artists, Short Street Gallery, Broome, WA