Arts Thursday 30 September 2021

presented by Bronwyn Rennex

Margaret Rarru, Dhomola Weaving,
 245 x 203 cm. Cat no 112-21
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On today’s show I play an interview I recorded with Jo Holder, who is Director of Cross Arts Projects and Curator of their current exhibition:

Dhomala Dhäwu: Makassan Sail Stories

The exhibtion features artists Ipeh Nur & Margaret Rarru Garrawurra and is presented in collaboration with Milingimbi Art and Culture.

Dhomola / Makassan Sail Story crosses the centuries of contact between sea-farers and traders of the great Indonesian archipelago and saltwater people of northern Aboriginal nations. Dhomala is a Djambarpuyŋu word adapted from the Makassan word Dumala, both of which have the dual meaning of sail and cloth. Drawing on research describing Makassan voyages, the exhibition presents a poetic dimension of cultural contact between great civilisations. The focus is on maritime heritage, specifically wooden boat building and sea-farers’ customs. Through the intimate and reflective work of weaving and drawing Ipeh Nur and Margaret Rarru revise and revisit ancient practices—many still in use today—using startling contemporary forms.

The first exhibition in this series was held in 2020 and presented with Buku-Larrngay Mulka Art Centre:

Part I: Yolngu / Makassan Crossings featured artists Dhuwarrwarr Marika, Bulthirrirri Wunungmurra & Nawurapu Wunungmurra.

Thanks for listening. If you’d like to hear the show again you can here.