JAMES LYUNA - SACRED DILLY BAG
JAMES LYUNA
SACRED DILLY BAG, 2005
76 x 105 cm
Natural Earth Pigments on Paper
REGION
Arnhem Land, NT
PROVENANCE
Aboriginal Fine Arts Gallery, NT
Private Collection, NSW
Cooee Art Leven, NSW
STORY
A dilly bag (burlupurr in Burarra or kunmadj in Kunwinjku) is a large woven collecting basket. These large baskets or bags are often made from the vine Malasia scandens, a strong pliable plant which grows along the floor and into the canopy of monsoon vine thickets. The baskets are used to collect a variety of heavy foods such as fish caught in conical fish traps, or large collections of yams.
Dilly bags can also be made from Pandanus spiralis, a plant which grows in many areas of Arnhem Land. These dilly bags are very finely made, tightly woven collecting baskets. They are often used to collect sugarbag—the native honey.
As well as being of practical use, dilly bags are also of religious significance to Arnhem Land people. Dilly bags are said to be totemic objects and are associated with particular sites in the landscape.
ARTIST PROFILE
