Kerry Malaray

Malaray is one of the daughters of the celebrated master fibre artist Margaret Rarru Garrawurra. She resides at Laŋarra (Howard Island), off the coast of Arnhem Land. In the unhurried environment of Laŋarra homeland, Malaray works with her mother to gather materials and process them into artworks imbued with their ancestral origins.

Along with all the other children and grandchildren of the Garrawurra, Malaray is responsible for knowing everything about the law and ceremony of the Garrawurra and must carry out certain work. At ceremonies, particularly Ŋärra (Cleansing Ceremony), the Garrawurra leaders delegate work to their waku and gutharra (children and grandchildren in the female line). The waku and gutharra ensure the ceremony is practiced correctly and also support it logistically, making sure that the right people are there, and painting the body paint designs onto participants. They also carry out other work to support the ceremony like cooking, cleaning and driving. They wear the Garrawurra body paint design, perform in the ceremony, and teach the ceremony to specific people.