Aboriginal Artwork by Kathleen Malpamba, Woven Mat, 160cm-170cm

Kathleen Malpamba, Woven Mat, 160cm-170cm

$949.00 1635+ Reviews

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Community Certified Artwork

This original artwork is sold on behalf of the community-run art centre. It includes their Certificate of Authenticity.

Details
Artwork details
Artist
Art Centre

Details

Aboriginal Artist - Kathleen Malpamba
Community - Ramingining
Homeland -
Aboriginal Art Centre - Bula'Bula Arts
Catalogue number - 126-25
Materials - Pandanus and Natural Dyes
Size(cm) - Total: D170-180 (irregular) Centre: D87-90

Artwork details

Traditionally, Nganiyal (conical mats) were used as an insect screen when erected, and as a sitting mat when folded. They are used in Ceremony as well as a functional item. Nowadays, artists weave many different shapes including flat, round and oblong.

Artist

Kathleen Malpamba is a senior fibre artist at Bula’bula Arts, who works on her brightly coloured and dynamic pieces from her home in Tank, an Outstation on the outskirts of the Ramingining Community.

Born into a family of talented and dedicated artists, Malpamba was taught as a young girl to weave by her mother, renowned artist R. Djunginy Malibirr (dec.). Her mother created a strong legacy that Kathleen maintains to this day alongside her sister Janice Djupuduwuy. Kathleen’s works are contemporary in style, using bright, naturally sourced colours, often featuring her family’s signature luminescent green. However, her knowledge and skilful adaptation of traditional techniques ground her work in Yolngu culture, making her a versatile and respected fibre artist.
In addition to a career as an exhibiting artist spanning decades, Kathleen is a strong presence in the Ramingining Community. Working at the local Women’s Safe House and with the Arafura Swamp Rangers on cultural activities.

Art Centre

From fibre art to paintings depicting traditional stories—internationally renowned Bula’bula Arts supports 150 artist members from Ramingining and its surrounding outstations. Our arts centre is an iconic tropical elevation style building in the heart of the Ramingining community in Central Arnhem Land, 400 kilometres east of Darwin.

Local artists coined the name Bula’Bula meaning the voice/tongue of Gandayala (red kangaroo) Ramingining’s Creation Being. The name represents the message in the song cycle of the red kangaroo’s journey from the Roper River to the Ramingining region. The story is depicted in unique Ramingining-style—steeped in spiritual, ritual and historical narratives across a variety of mediums: print, painting, sculpture, fibre art, song, dance, as well as film and literature mediums.

Text: Bula'bula Arts

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