Djirriḏiḏi giwiḻirr (Garrawurra conical basket)

Margaret Rarru is a senior artist, master weaver, and respected Elder. She was born at Galiwin’ku (Elcho Island) and now lives between her mother’s Country of Laŋarra (Howard Island) and Yurrwi (Milingimbi Island). Harvesting and processing the materials from her homelands, each work by Rarru resonates with cultural knowledge of the Djaŋ'kawu Sisters. The mindirr (basket) is a ceremonial and practical object used by the sisters as they travelled across Country creating the landforms present in parts of Arnhem Land today. In this work Rarru employs the Djaŋ'kawu Sisters Liyagawumirr Djirri-didi (ceremonial body paint designs) to create miny'tji (colour and pattern) on the mindirr (basket). The simplistic lines represent a series of sites, stories and custodianship rights that are known to those from this Country.