What is Aboriginal pandanus weaving?
Pandanus weaving is a traditional fibre art practised by Aboriginal women in northern Australia, especially Arnhem Land. Women weave baskets, mats and dilly bags from pandanus leaves dyed with natural colours.
Weavers collect young pandanus leaves, strip off the spiky edges, split them into thin strands and dry them in the sun. They then boil the fibres with roots, bark and leaves to make natural dyes in yellow, red, brown and black.
Common items include coiled baskets, conical fish traps, mats and string bags called dilly bags. Each region has its own techniques and patterns, and knowledge passes from older to younger women.
From tradition to contemporary art
Today, woven works are sold through art centres such as Bula'bula Arts in Ramingining and Maningrida Arts and Culture. Some artists create large sculptures, including woven animals and spirit figures.
Fibre art has been shown in major galleries in Australia and overseas, and the National Gallery of Australia holds large collections of woven baskets and sculptures from Arnhem Land.
Some artists, especially in the Torres Strait and Cape York, also weave with ghost nets, combining traditional techniques with recycled materials. Collecting pandanus and dye plants is often a family outing that teaches children about country, seasons and plants. Weaving can take weeks or months for a single large piece.
Did You Know?
Ghost nets are abandoned fishing nets that wash ashore in northern Australia, and artists turn them into sculptures.