Piinpi: Contemporary Indigenous Fashion

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Posted 2021-03-08 by Susan J Bowes ⇒ follow

Sat 20 Feb 2021 - Sun 08 Aug 2021

Living in a multi-cultural country gives us lots of options for fashion from different cultures and diverse backgrounds.

Currently on exhibition until 8th August 2021, Piinpi, an expression of the Kanichi Thampanvu, First Nations people from the East Cape York Peninsula, is being held at the National Museum of Australia. The theme of this exhibition is based on the number of seasons, where the knowledge of the land and the seasons is culturally important to First Nations Groups.

The exhibition features work of Indigenous artists and designers living anywhere from remote desert centres to the inner-city suburbs and is part of the long-standing collaboration between Alastair Swayn Foundation and the National Museum through the Museum's Swayn Fellowship in Australian Design.

Curated by Bendigo Art Gallery's First Nations Curator, Kaantju Woman Shonae Hobson, the exhibition brings together approximately sixty works by creators and brands including Grace Lillian Lee, Lyn-Al young, Lisa Waup x Verner, Hopevale Arts and Culture Centre, MAARA Collective, the Yarrenvty Arltere Artists, AARLI Fashion and LORE.

Piinpi highlights the strength and diversity of our rapidly expanding Indigenous fashion and textile industry in Australia and internationally. A must-see for every Australia, the exhibition will be one of the key celebrations during the Museum's 20th anniversary this year.

Giving Indigenous artists and designers a voice in their artistic expression is an important move in how the World and Australian's view the importance of Indigenous culture in a global fashion arena. Enjoy the stories told within the designs as fusions of old and new materials and techniques are used.

Some of the highlights are as follows.

Four pieces by Gunnai, Wiradjuri, Gunditjmara and Yorta Yorta woman Lyn-Al Young, which are hand-painted using ancient techniques while capturing the subtle transformations of Young's Country over time.

A possum skin cloak, which was made by Dja Dja Wurrung/Yorta Yorta Elder Rodney Carter showcases the continued resilience of the Dja Dja Wurrung people from Central Victoria, who are revitalising their cultural traditions through powerful forms of artistic expression.

Woven pandanus hats and accessories are created by Margaret Malibirr, Mary Dhapalanyand Evonne Munuyngu from Bula'bula Arts in East Arnhem Land in collaboration with Yuwaalaraay woman Julie Shaw, creator of the luxury resort-wear line MAARA Collective. Inspiring the Australian landscape these items were extremely popular at the Country to Couture runway event in Darwin's Aboriginal Art Fair in 2019.

Several highly sculptured pieces by Grace Lillian Lee, including A Weave of Reflection (2018). Grace is a descendant of the Meriam Mir people of the Eastern Islands of the Torres Strait, and creates wearable art pieces using techniques taught to her by artist Uncle Ken Thaiday.

Paying respects to the land and committing to sustainability techniques, Teagan Cowlishaw's sparkly Deadly Kween jumpsuit is made from upcycled materials including a remnant cushion, a faulty 'deadly' T-shirt and aqua metallic gold lustre vinyl print. Tegan creates custom garments using dead stock and discarded materials, seeing recycling as a way of paying respect to her Ancestors and preserving our beautiful Country for generations to come.