Warnumamalya Design Shares National Stage in Piinpi: Contemporary Indigenous Fashion
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 exhibition 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.
Seedpods Top and Pant, 2019, Grace Rosendale, linen, Hopevale Arts and Cultural Centre and Queensland University of Technology. Model: Magnolia Maymuru. Photo: Bronwyn Kidd.
‘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)
Curator Shonae Hobson who created Piinpi: Contemporary Indigenous Fashion. Image courtesy of National Museum Australia.
Contemporary fashion and textile design has become an important extension of the traditional practice of Warnumamalya artists, whose mission is to keep culture strong by embracing and teaching the old ways alongside the new. Speaking on the experience of creating these pieces and seeing them come to life, artist Annabell Amagula says ‘I feel happy and proud, it comes from our Country. I like wearing it and it’s good to see they like wearing it too.’
Entrance to Piinpi: Contemporary Indigenous Fashion exhibition. Image courtesy of National Museum Australia.
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.
For those who are unable to get to Canberra the exhibition can be enjoyed from home thanks to this curator led tour video made available by Bendio Gallery.