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  • Title: Merrepen – Weaving Design
  • Artist: Gracie Kumbi
  • Region: Darwin Daly
  • Art Centre: Merrepen Arts
  • Medium: Etching
  • Collection:
  • Dimensions: 24.5 x 32 cm
  • Edition Size: 30
  • Price ($AUD): $ 375

Artwork Story

etching with hand coloured chine-collé.

The women of Merrepen Arts collect merrepen (Livistonia palm) during the dry and wet seasons and use it to construct twine. This is then woven into dilly bags and fishnets. The woven design is the basis of this etching.

The merrepen is one of many plants that provide a life source for the people of the Daly River region in the top end of the Northern Territory. Merrepen is a small fan-leaved palm that grows in the bush all around Ngan’gi country and the Top End. It is a very important plant for Ngan’gi people and has many uses.

Merrepen is a Dreaming or totem for some Ngan’gi people and is the name of the art centre at Nauiyu. Merrepen is extensively used to make fibre, which is twinned into string. The new leaves are pulled out of the stem apex of the plant before they unfold. These are then split into fine threads which are sun dried. The fibres may be dyed and then twisted into string. This string is used to make woven dilly-bags dilly-bags, fishing nets and other fibre-craft products. This is a significant industry at Nauiyu, where many women are excellent fibre-craft artisans.

Reference: Ngan’gi Plants and Animals 2014, © Merrepen Arts 2016

This etching was made as part of a print workshop held at Merrepen Arts in March 2016 with master print maker Basil Hall and facilitated by Nomad Art Productions, Darwin. Ten artists participated in the week-long workshop.

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