Alicia Mardday – Merlemerleh (Butterfly)

Alicia Mardday excels in various fibre art forms, showcasing her expertise in pandanus weaving, single-element string looping, woven and coiled baskets, dilly bags, knotted fiber figures and animals, string bags, feather-adorned string bags, fish traps/nets, and mixed-medium fiber sculptures that often incorporate recycled materials.

In Alicia Mardday’s community, merlemerle (butterflies) are a common sight, fluttering away into the trees when people approach. In the past, children would search for manyahyay (yellow flowering acacia) trees, always teeming with butterflies during their flowering season, providing hours of entertainment as kids playfully pursued them with sticks. It is suggested that when a butterfly circles you, it signals the arrival of visitors.

Alicia Mardday’s roots trace back to Namagardabo outstation, and she met her partner, Timothy, in Gunbalanya before moving there in 2001. She honed her weaving skills under the guidance of her Aunt, Ngal bulanj Nabegeyo.