Title
Mol mät (black mat)
2022
Artist
Helen Ganalmirriwuy Garrawurra
Australia
09 Nov 1955 –
Language group: Ḻiyagawumirr Garrawurra, Arnhem region
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Details
- Place where the work was made
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Milingimbi
→
Central Arnhem Land
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Northern Territory
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Australia
- Date
- 2022
- Media category
- Weaving
- Materials used
- natural dyes on pandanus (Pandanus spiralis)
- Dimensions
- 121.0 cm diam.
- Signature & date
Not signed. Not dated.
- Credit
- Commissioned with funds provided by the Mollie Gowing Acquisition Fund for Contemporary Aboriginal Art 2021
- Location
- North Building, ground level, Yiribana Gallery
- Accession number
- 146.2022
- Copyright
- © Helen Ganalmirriwuy/Copyright Agency
- Artist information
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Helen Ganalmirriwuy Garrawurra
Works in the collection
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About
The Milingimbi Art and Culture certificate for this work states: Helen Ganalmirriwuy Garrawurra understands the power of colour. Her work can be distinguished by the striking use of blacks, oranges, reds and other earthy hues. Her monochrome pieces exemplify her mastery of colour and natural dye process as well as precise weaving technique. Ganalmirriwuy makes her colours from roots, leaves and barks harvested from the Crocodile Islands and her mother's homeland of Laŋarra (Howard Island) in the Northern Territory.
Up until the late 20th century fibre objects where made by both men and women. Fibre objects including mindirr (conical bags) and bamugora (conical mats) were decorated by applying natural pigments to the surface of fibre objects. The development of dying fibres by submerging them in gapu (water) with local plants was introduced by missionaries and has been widely practiced in Yurrwi/Milingimbi since the 1940s. Each weavers palette is informed by the natural dying material (leaves and roots) that are particular to their Country.
In the 1990s Margaret Rarru Garrawurra perfected the recipe for the many hues of black that she and her sister Helen Ganalmirriwuy Garrawurra are renowned for. When asked for the recipe Rarru and her sisters reply 'maybe one day you will sit with us and you will learn'. It is accepted amongst Yolŋu weavers that the singular use of black is reserved for Rarru and those to whom she gives permission. -
Places
Where the work was made
Milingimbi
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Exhibition history
Shown in 1 exhibition
Yiribana Gallery: opening collection display, Art Gallery of New South Wales, North Building, Sydney, 03 Dec 2022–29 May 2023