Mary Dhapalany (1)

Mary is a very skilled weaver. She has been making fibre objects for utilitarian and ritual use since her early teenage years. She is very proud to be David Gulpilil’s twin sister.

Artworks

Mindirr (Pandanus Bag)

$380.00

Dhawurr/batjbarra fish trap - Weaving - Mary Dhapalany (1)

Dhawurr or Batjbarra (Fish Trap)

$400.00

Woven Mat

$1,500.00

Mewana (Bush Basket or Scoop)

$900.00

Mewana (Bush Basket or Scoop)

$900.00

Biography

Languages: Mandhalpuy
Dreaming: Dhuwa
Clan: Mandhalpuy
Outstation: Gulpilul
Community: Ramingining

Mary is a proud Mandhalpuy woman has been a practicing artist for four decades, and her weaving artwork is representative of traditional craft passed down through generations of women weavers in her family. The 70-year-old artist uses natural dyes, extracted from earth pigment or plant roots, to colour the pandanus leaf (gunga) used in her work. Mary is considered a master weaver in Arnhem Land. Due to her career and accolades, she has made Yolngu weaving visible.

Mary’s weavings are much sought after and she was recently invited to represent Australia in the Aichi Triennale, Japan and in Craft Masters Asia Pacific Program, China. Her pieces are in the following collections; National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Chicago School of Business, Artbank, Sydney, University of Sydney and Janet Holmes a’ Court Collection. Mary was part of the team who won the National Indigenous Fashion Award for her collaboration with MAARA designer Julie Shaw. Mary was the recent recipient of the World Crafts Council Asia Pacific Region Craft Master Award in 2023.