Mary Dhalapany

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Mary Dhapalany
Born1953 (1953) (age 71)
North East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia
Known forweaving, fibre art, contemporary Indigenous Australian art Australian Aboriginal fibrecraft Australian Aboriginal fibre sculpture
RelativesDavid Gulpilil, Peter Minygululu, Djelirr, Belinda Gunydjulma, and Evonne Munuyngu

Mary Dhapalany (born 1953), skin name Bilinydjan,

Yolŋu people from the Mandhalpuy clan, of the Dhuwa moiety.[1] She is a renowned Aboriginal Australian fibre-artist.

Bibliography

Dhapalany was born in 1953 with her twin brother

bark paintings.[6] Her sister, Evonne Munuyngu works alongside Mary in modern weaving practices.[7]

Art career

Dhapalany has worked with the local art centre,

Bula'Bula Arts, creating fine art weavings for years.[3] Recently, Mary works at the outstation of Gupulul and returns to the community centre to gather supplies.[8] She makes a number of different fibre works including decorative nganiyal (conical mats), fish traps, mewana, and many others which are steeped in Aboriginal ceremonial importance.[7] She is best known for reinvigorating classic weaving designs with unique combinations of saturated dyes she creates herself.[7]

Recently, her intricate weavings have been shown in contemporary art exhibitions. She has worked with her sister Evonne and several other Aborigines in collaboration with the National Gallery of Victoria to create the 2022 inaugural Indigenous Fashion Commission. Aboriginal weavers created the bodice for a gown using woven, hand-dyed pandanus fibres shown in Vogue Australia.[9]

Weaving practice in Arnhem Land

The weaving process begins with gathering pandanus spiralis or gunga. Women gather in groups to collect pandanus, bringing hooked sticks and knives to procure the leaves. They look for fresh, long leaves without holes or cracks in the middle. Sometimes at the same time, they collect natural materials to dye the leaves later such as roots and flowers.

The collected leaves are then spread out on a cloth and parted into strips. The prickly edges are removed and the leaves are split into a usable size. The Aboriginal weavers do all this by hand receiving the needed training from their ancestors who passed down the knowledge of how to prepare pandanus and use them in weaving. The stripped strands are then placed in the sun to dry for a few hours, making them stronger fibres. The dried leaves are bundled together for the dying.[10]

Natural dyes
are used to colour pandanus for aesthetic purposes. Commonly used dyes are red and yellow made respectively from borkpili plant roots and yiriŋaniŋ grass roots. The plant material is then ground up and boiled with the dried pandanus colouring them vibrantly.

The fibres are ready to use in weavings now. The fibres are woven into whatever the artist desires. Things created can be utilitarian, for decoration, or for ceremonial purposes. Recently, Aboriginal Artists like Lena Yarinkura have been expanding traditional weaving practices by creating sculptural narrative works.

Dr. Louise Hamby, a scholar on natural fibre works in Arnhem Land, suggests four main reasons for creating fibre arts. The first is their essential role in ceremonial practice. For example, on certain occasions, dillybags are used to carry sacred objects and cultural significance. Another purpose for fibre art creation is the social environment it brings. Women and children gather and work together in the creation process and elders share critical cultural knowledge of history and creation practice.[10] With this idea, creating fibre arts is done to maintain cultural knowledge and preserve traditional techniques for further generations. Lastly, the production of fibre art is a job and is done for economic purposes.[11]

Family

Mary has a deceased twin brother David Gulpilil, who was an actor. [12] She also has another brother, Peter Mingyululu who is also an artist.

Film career

Alongside her siblings, Peter Mingyululu and David Gulpilil, Dhapalany starred in the 2006 film Ten Canoes, known as the first film created entirely in Aboriginal Language.[13]

Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2020[16] Mary Dhapalany Mangul, Margaret Djarbaalabal Malibirr, Evonne Muyuyngu, and Julie Shaw National Indigenous Fashion Awards Awarded

Art collections

Dhapalany is represented in many major public collections, including:

References

  1. ^ a b "Mary Dhapalany (1)". Bula'Bula Arts Aboriginal Corporation. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b Fitzgerald, Nina; Meyer, Ellie. "COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AWARD". National Indigenous Fashion Awards. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Mary Dhapalany". Idia. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  4. ^ Richards, Zara (9 August 2021). "New David Gulpilil exhibition debuts at Tandanya". Glam Adelaide. Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Mary Dhapalany". Kathmandu Triennale. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Peter Minygululu". Aboriginal Fine Arts. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d Allam, Lorena; Moore, Isabella. "'Bringing the sun in': the hardworking weavers of Bula'Bula dig colour from the red earth". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Mary Dhapalany was busy..." Picnob. Bula'Bula Arts. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  9. ^ "NGV Presents the Inaugural Indigenous Fashion Commission". National Gallery of Victoria. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  10. ^ a b Burarrwanga, Lak Lak; Ganambarr, Banbapuy; Ganambarr, Ritjilili; Lloyd, Kate; Djawundil, Maymuru; Suchet-Pearson, Sandie; Wright, Sarah (2008). Weaving Lives Together at Bawaka: North East Arnhem Land. Centre for Urban and Regional Studies.
  11. ^ Hanby, Louise (2005). Twined Together: Kunmadj Njalehnjaleken. Injalak Arts and Crafts.
  12. ISSN 0261-3077
    . Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Mary Dhapalany". Kathmandu Triennale 2077. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  14. ^ "NATSIAA 2020 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED". Museum Art and Gallery Northern Territory. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  15. ^ "Telstra NATISAA: 2023 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards". Museum Art and Gallery Northern Territory. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  16. ^ Fitzgerald and Ellie, Nina; Neyer, Ellie. "CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NIFA 2020 WINNERS!". National Indigenous Fashion Awards. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Tony Albert". Biennale of Sydney. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  18. ^ "Artists: Mary Dhapalany". Still Alive Aichi Triennale 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  19. ^ "PET Lamp Ramingining: individual lamp". National Gallery of Victoria. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  20. ^ Dodd, Carly. "Feature... From North To South: Arnhem Land To Tarntanya". Jam Factory. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  21. ^ "Garden of Six Seasons". MutualArt.
  22. ^ "Garden of Ten Seasons". MutualArt. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  23. ^ "Witnessing several beautiful pieces..." Instagram. Nationaltrustnt. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  24. ^ "Bula'Bula Arts Miyalk buku-manapanmirri (women gathering together)". Beaver Galleries. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  25. ^ Delaney, Brigid. "NGV Triennial: astounding blockbuster grips the heart ... and repels the nostrils". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  26. ^ "Bulabula-Arts-SM-Featured-Artisit-Mary-Dhapalany-Ramingining". Flickr. Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF). Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  27. ^ "Join weavers like Mary Dhapalany..." Instagram. Bula'Bula Arts. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
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