Jellyfish sculpture by Jill Yirrindili
Artist
Jill Yirrindili
(1955)
Datec 2002
Object number00042496
NameSculpture
MediumPandanus grass, bark, natural fibres, natural pigment
DimensionsDisplay dimensions: 540 x 140 x 120 mm
500 x 120 x 120 mm
500 x 120 x 120 mm
ClassificationsArt
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionA woven sculpture of a jellyfish made by Jill Yirrindili from pandanus leaves, natural fibres and decorated with brown and gold pigment.
Jill Yirrindili is a fibre artist from Maningrida in the Northern Territory.HistoryWorks in fibre have always been strong from this area, known for their aesthetic use of bush dyes and conical fish traps. The Maningrida region is located on the North Central Arnhem Land coast of the Arafura Sea, on the estuary of the Liverpool River. The Kunibídji people are the traditional landowners of this country. The name Maningrida is an Anglicised version of the Kunibídji name "Manayingkarírra" which comes from the phrase "Mane djang karirra" meaning "the place where the Dreaming changed shape'.
Despite having a long cultural and practical history, the use of fibre has beacome a medium for fresh exporession in the Maningrida region. Fibre artists there have become innovative and are creating new forms such as jelly fish, sting rays 'camp dogs' etc.SignificanceThe jellyfish represent primarily a food source in northern Australia as well as appearing in ancestral stories.Their shape make them easily represented using dried pandanus leaves and local ochres.This work shows the high quality and dynamic weaving techniques of the women of Maningrida.Today's artists are adapting centuries-old techniques to create innovative works relating to both ancestral events and everyday themes and represent the contemporary female artists of the Maningrida region.
