Piinpi: Contemporary Indigenous Fashion

Event Opens:   February 20, 2021

Event Closes:   August 8, 2021

Event Website:  https://www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/piinpi-contemporary-indigenous-fashion

Location:  National Museum Australia, Canberra ACT

Event Details:

Pink Dress, 2018, Maicie Lalara, plant dyes and recycled sari silk, Anindilyakwa Arts. Model: Nelitta Nunggumajbarr. Photo: Anna Reynolds

Anindilyakwa Arts is proud to have nine artists’ artworks and fashion collection pieces featured in this national exhibition showing at National Museum Australia (NMA). First showing at Bendigo Gallery from October 2020 – January 2021, Piinpi: Contemporary Indigenous Fashion will be showing at NMA until August 8 2021.

The exhibit is described by NMA as ‘a celebration of Indigenous art, history and culture through contemporary fashion and design. It brings together a selection of garments and textiles by First Nations designers and artists from around Australia.

‘Piinpi’ is an expression that Kanichi Thampanyu (First Nations people from the East Cape York Peninsula) use to describe changes in the landscape across time and space. For many First Nations people across Australia, knowledge of the land and seasons is culturally important. While the number of seasons can vary across many First Nations groups, the exhibition is themed around four widely recognised seasons.

Curated by Shonae Hobson at Bendigo Art Gallery, Piinpi highlights the strength and diversity of the rapidly expanding Indigenous fashion and textile industry.’ (National Museum Australia)

Entry to the Piinpi: Contemporary Indigenous Fashion exhibition. - click to view larger image

Entrance to Piinpi: Contemporary Indigenous Fashion exhibition

Left look: Mangrove Dress, 2018, Bernadette Watt, plant dyes on silk and recycled silk sari. Ghost Net Bag, 2018, Annabell Amagula, reclaimed ghost net, plant dyes, linen, recycled sari silk. Shell and Seed Necklace, 2018, Lucy Bara, seeds and seashells on nylon. Right look: Pink Dress, 2018, Maicie Lalara, plant dyes and recycled sari silk. Ghost Net Basket, 2019, Sharna Wurramara, reclaimed ghost net, plant dyes, linen. Shell and Seed Necklace, 2019, Candida Mamarika, seeds and seashells on nylon. Image courtesy of Leon Schoots Photography.

A young woman is sitting in front of an exhibition display featuring fashion clothing and accessories on mannequins. - click to view larger image

Curator Shonae Hobson who created Piinpi: Contemporary Indigenous Fashion