Munhala Dhamarrandji is a Yolŋu artist from the Djambarrpuyŋu clan whose work intricately weaves cultural stories, natural elements, and ancestral songlines. Her art features the Djambarrpuyŋu clan design of Batjimurruŋu, a shellfish found in the mangrove areas of Gurula Dhulmuwandany near Buckingham Bay. 

This design, deeply rooted in Djambarrpuyŋu culture, depicts the miny’tji (sacred patterns) of Batjimurruŋu, known in Yolŋu matha as Cassidula angulifera or the Angular Ear Shell, and its synonyms, miniminipi and mitjalaŋaniŋ. The shellfish, which climbs the aerial roots of mangroves with the incoming tide, is celebrated in songs connected to the Djaŋ’kawu Sisters of the Dhuwa moiety.

Dhamarrandji learned this design through her mother’s first husband, linking her to her classificatory sister clan and their sacred narratives. Her work reflects not only her heritage but also her personal connection to the ancestral stories of the Djambarrpuyŋu people, particularly through her exploration of Batjimurruŋu and its associated songlines.

Dhamarrandji was a finalist in the 40th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Awards at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) in 2022.