Dorothy Bidingal, Gapuwiyak - Woven Dilly Bag

• Aboriginal Artist - Dorothy Bidingal
• Community - Gapuwiyak
• Aboriginal Art Centre - Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts
• Materials - Pandanus, natural dyes.
• Size(cm) - H27 L10 W10
• Height when strung(cm) - 56

Bulpu are made from Gunga (Pandanus Spiralis), using a twining process. The twining technique may be thought of as the twisting together of elements. Artists take two twisting lengths of pandanus and work them across a series of vertical or radiating lengths. The twisting lengths are the 'active' elements of the structure and the radiating lengths are 'passive'. Variation occurs through changing the density, the order, or the colour. The Gunga is coloured with natural bush dyes. Balgurr Raki (hand-spun string from the Kurrajong tree) is used to finish the bulpu and provide a handle. The Bulpu design is based on the traditional Bathi or Dimbuka, used in ceremonies. Bulpu are also used for collecting and carrying. During the Wangarr (Dreaming) creator ancestors used Bulpu for the same purposes they are used today, but their baskets were plain pandanus.

Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts Aboriginal Corporation is a recent initiative of the remote East Arnhem Land community of Gapuwiyak, also known as Lake Evella. The organisation is not-for-profit. It was created to enhance the wellbeing of Yolngu people living in the region by supporting their cultural practices, values and intellectual property while providing opportunities for leadership, meaningful employment and professional development.

Pandanus are palm-like, dioecious trees and shrubs, their leaves “pandan” are commonly used in traditional handicraft. The young leaves are harvested and sliced into fine strips, followed by a colouring process, in which the strips are placed in drums of bush dyes, roots and leaves from different plants sourced in the area. Dye is extracted through bashing and crushing techniques, then added to the water with the pandanus to create these vivid hues. The pandan strips are then woven into intricate baskets and mats,or rolled into ropes for other designs.