"Learning Country" By Ryhia Dank

Ryhia Dank is a Gudanji/Wakaja artist and storyteller who grew up in the remote Northern Territory and now lives in contemporary urban Australia. Her unique visual language—what she calls “storywork”—draws on traditional pattern and design to share culture, memory, and identity. Her practice is named Nardurna, a Gudanji word meaning “woman,” and is rooted in a Dreaming story of three women who came from the ocean to shape the hills and freshwater Country near Ngukurr.

Dank’s work blends traditional and modern perspectives, sharing the stories of her people with a bold, contemporary voice. She is passionate about creating accessible pathways for cultural knowledge, especially for children, making her board books not only visually stunning but culturally vital.