Commonly known as “dilly bags”, mindirr are woven from the split leaves of the Screw Palm (Pandanus Spiralis). They are made in various shapes and sizes and are worn hanging down the back with the string handle across the forehead.
Name: Mary Dhapalany (1)
Language: Mandhalpuy
Community: Ramingining
Biography:
Mary is a proud Mandhalpuy woman has been a practicing artist for four decades, and her weaving artwork is representative of traditional craft passed down through generations of women weavers in her family. The 70-year-old artist uses natural dyes, extracted from earth pigment or plant roots, to colour the pandanus leaf (gunga) used in her work. Mary is considered a master weaver in Arnhem Land. Due to her career and accolades, she has made Yolngu weaving visible.
Mary’s weavings are much sought after and she was recently invited to represent Australia in the Aichi Triennale, Japan and in Craft Masters Asia Pacific Program, China. Her pieces are in the following collections; National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Chicago School of Business, Artbank, Sydney, University of Sydney and Janet Holmes a’ Court Collection. Mary was part of the team who won the National Indigenous Fashion Award for her collaboration with MAARA designer Julie Shaw. Mary was the recent recipient of the World Crafts Council Asia Pacific Region Craft Master Award in 2023.
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