'Djerrk (Bush String Bag)' Mary Dhapalany (Natural / Yellow)

All exhibition works are pickup only, available for collection from July 14th. 

Djerrk (Bush String Bag) is a flexible, open weave bag made from the bark of Balgurr (red-flowered Kurrajong) but can also be made using Banyan Tree or the Cocky Apple Tree. The bark is harvested by cutting sections of the tree from the trunk. Depending on the size of the tree, this can involve removing small sections or the whole trunk. The inner bark is then softened by being beaten or chewed, then dyed. Bula’bula weavers exclusively use natural dyes, derived from locally sourced roots, leaves and grasses. These pigments are extracted and infused into dried balgurr fibres by boiling over an open fire, producing the rich, vibrant colours characteristic of contemporary Yolŋu weavings. Once dyed, the fibre is separated into fine strips the rolled on the thigh to create a rope, otherwise known as bush string. The bush string is woven and knotted to create the Djerrk (String Bag). This bag was used for every day utilitarian purposes, particularly collecting bush foods.

Dimensions: (H x W) 49cm x 80cm

Materials: Balgurr (Kurrajong - Brachychiton Populneus), natural dyes

Tradition and contemporary practice are woven together like threads in a tapestry. Ghost net traps use ancestral weaving techniques, echoing the connection between land, sea, and community. Salvaged materials condemn the use of the plastic commercial fishing nets that litter the oceans. Weavings, lino printed fabrics and dillybags hang alongside carved sculptures and ceramics, each piece a trace of cultural lineage, Indigenous lore and identity. These objects are acts of cultural continuity that embody ecological wisdom and spirit passed down through generations. From the pandanus weavings of Injalak Arts to the fibre art from Maningrida, the diversity of materials and technique reflect the richness of Australia’s Indigenous cultures.