As part of a collaborative project with Koskela, six Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art centres from around Australia – Bula’Bula Arts, Northern Territory, Durrmu Arts, Northern Territory, Milingimbi Art and Culture, Northern Territory, Moa Arts, Queensland, Ngarrindjeri Weavers, South Australia and Tjanpi Desert Weavers of the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yakunytjatjara lands (WA, SA and NT borders of Central Australia) – come together to present ‘Ngalya’ an exhibition celebrating Indigenous fibre art, weaving and culture, and also marking the ten-year anniversary of Koskela’s social impact projects of working with Australia’s First Nation Peoples.
‘Ngalya’ (meaning ‘both’ in Dharug) features a collection of innovative contemporary lighting designs; pendant, wall and stand alone pieces and installation works, all inspired by important Indigenous cultural objects bringing vibrant new creations for interior design to the fore.
BULA’BULA ARTS, Ramingining Batjbarra (scoop) and Madjirr (string). In Ramingining, batjbarra (scoop) are woven to gather Rarrgi/Rakayi (water chestnuts). Here, a series of batjbarra by the women of Bula’Bula Arts have been reinterpreted, illuminated and suspended. Madjirr is the Dhuwa word for string, and the form is inspired by the making of bush string and bags
All of the works in ‘Ngalya’ have been woven ‘on country’, on the site of each artist’s ancestral land and place of residence and are hand-woven using locally harvested plant fibres and natural, hand-made dyes. The collection, preparation and weaving of the fibres is labour intensive; from harvesting the plants to driving the boat, to stripping the leaves, digging up and peeling the roots for dye, soaking the leaves, boiling the pot and drying the fibres. Every stage of these processes are integral to production and maintaining cultural practices.
Weaving taking place for Koskela’s Ngalya by Artist Dianne Ungukalpi Golding of Tjanpi Desert Weavers, Warakurna, Western Australia Photograph: Rhett Hammerton for Koskela
Koskela creates opportunity for Indigenous weavers to earn additional income for their work and makes way for the presentation of new and compelling ‘art products’ for contemporary interiors. Koskela is a member of the Indigenous Art Code of Practice working ethically to support the production of Australian made products and to effect social change while aiming to promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and their work.
In October ‘Ngalya’ will travel to the South Australian School of Art Gallery in Adelaide as part of TARNANTHI 2019, the Art Gallery of South Australia’s annual Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art.
Koskela
Until 18 September 2019
Sydney
