Bonnie, Freda and Sylvia

The Maningrida Arts Community in north-west Arnhem Land produces a rich variety of fibre objects, both utilitarian and artistic. These include mats, baskets, bags, wall hangings, ceremonial regalia, and sculptural fish traps.

The primary thread for these weavings is the pandanus leaf, which is dyed using natural materials like the bloodroot. The weaving process is laborious, but the women who practice it take pride in their craft and its transmission to younger generations.

Each weaver’s unique style is reflected in her work. The colours of the weavings—reds, yellows, browns, black, and green—echo the changing seasons and the availability of different dye-yielding plants.

Maningrida Arts and Culture, the coordinating art centre for the Mun-dirra project at the NGV Triennial, is a leading Indigenous arts centre representing renowned artists like John Mawurndjul. Notably, the Mun-dirra project resulted in the creation of Australia’s largest woven sculpture.

Images on Country: Richard Mockler for ‘Making Mun-dirra’ – with Anna Freeland, ABC Arts, February 12 2024

Information Sourced: Elizabeth Fortescue, ‘Vast fish fence takes centre stage at Melbourne’s NGV Triennial’, The Art Newspaper, December 4 2023