DESIGNING WITH COUNTRY: USING TRADITIONAL YOLŊU FISH TRAPS - Agency Projects x Bula'bula Arts MDW Panel

Join Agency, in partnership with First Nations design thinkers, artists and rangers, for a series of breakfast conversations at the 47 Easey Street precinct in Collingwood, for Melbourne Design Week 2025.

In this panel, Bula'bula Arts weaver Kathleen Malpamba and Arafura Swamp Ranger Mali Djarrbal discuss their recent project exploring ways of restoring freshwater fish populations through the use of traditional fish trapping methods. The project demonstrates the rich tradition of Yolŋu textile craftsmanship while addressing ecological challenges in Gurruwiliny (Arafura Swamp). Facilitated by Mayatili Marika, this panel will be held in the Wukun Wanambi Project Space and celebrates the exhibition of the traps and nets used for the project Dhawurr/Batjbarra (Fishtrap), an exhibition at Agency Projects in association with Melbourne Design Week 2025.

About the speakers:

Mali Djarrbal is Senior Miyalk (woman) Ranger for the Arafura Swamp Rangers (ASRAC). Mali has worked for ASRAC for over 10 years and does a great job looking after Country. She’s an excellent role model and has gained many skills over the years, including leadership skills from her time with NORFORCE as an Australian Army reservist. In her rare spare time, she weaves from skills taught by mother, Clara Wubukwubuk (dec.)

Kathleen Malpamba is a senior fibre artist at Bula’bula Arts, who works on her brightly coloured and dynamic pieces from her home in Tank, an Outstation on the outskirts of the Ramingining Community. Born into a family of talented and dedicated artists, Malpamba was taught as a young girl to weave by her mother, renowned artist R. Djunginy Malibirr (dec.). Her mother created a strong legacy that Kathleen maintains to this day alongside her sister Janice Djupuduwuy. Kathleen's works are contemporary in style, using bright, naturally sourced colours, often featuring her family's signature luminescent green. However, her knowledge and skilful adaptation of traditional techniques ground her work in Yolngu culture, making her a versatile and respected fibre artist. In addition to a career as an exhibiting artist spanning decades, Kathleen is a strong presence in the Ramingining Community with the Arafura Swamp Rangers on cultural activities.

Mayatili Marika (she/her) is a Rirratjingu Traditional Owner and Yolngu woman based in north-east Arnhem Land. Part of a new generation of leadership for Yolngu people, Mayatili is a bilingual leader and advocate who is involved in the education pipeline for Yolngu people in the region. Mayatili belongs to one of the great artistic and political dynasties of Australia. Her father is Wandjuk Marika O.B.E. and her grandfather is Mawalan Marika. For over a decade Mayatili has been the Cultural Curator and programmer of the Garma Festival (Australia's largest annual indigenous event) in North East Arnhem Land.
Mayatili has been working closely with major domestic and international art institutions such as National Gallery of Australia, the Met in New York, and many commercial galleries in Australia and the US, as a curator of exhibitions, including the recent groundbreaking and critically acclaimed travelling exhibition Maḏayin: Eight Decades of Aboriginal Australian Bark Painting from Yirrkala.

Melbourne Design Week 2025

Melbourne Design Week is an initiative of the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria. 

For more information on Melbourne Design Week 2025 please visit - designweek.melbourne

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Image courtesy of Arafura Swamp Rangers.