Tjanpi Desert Weavers

Australian Design Centre plays a critical role in celebrating the work of Australian artists who embrace the highest degree of skill and who continually explore material, process and ideas to advance contemporary craft and design practice.

Object Space is our window gallery located at the Australian Design Centre HQ on William Street, Darlinghurst, on view 24 hours a day.

14 July - 1 August 2022

Tjanpi Desert Weavers

Tjanpi artists use tjanpi (grass) to make spectacular contemporary fibre art, weaving beautiful baskets and sculptures and displaying endless creativity and inventiveness. Working with fibre has become a fundamental part of Central and Western Desert culture. Tjanpi Desert Weavers is a social enterprise of the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women’s Council and represents over 400 artists from 26 remote communities.

Baskets on display by: Ngoi Ngoi Donald, Julie Anderson, Yuminia Kenta, Shirlleena Wilson, Lillian Inkamala, Margaret Smith, Rosalind Yiparti and Julie Anderson.

Explore the work of the Tjanpi Desert Weavers.

Tjunkaya Tapaya OAM (video) holds senior positions in her community and is a keeper of culture and stories. It is these stories and experiences that she weaves into her work, an important element being to pass on culture and skills to new generations of makers.

Tjunkaya divides her time as an artist painting for Ernabella Arts in the mornings and weaving in the afternoons for Tjanpi Desert Weavers. Tjunkaya is a member of the Pitjantjatjara people. She was born in the desert in the far northwest of South Australia near Attila (Mount Connor). Her mother had walked from Walytjitjata, in the Northern Territory, and arrived at Ernabella Mission at Pukatja shortly after Tjunkaya’s birth. Now a senior Anangu woman based at Ernabella in South Australia, Tjunkaya holds senior positions in her community and is a keeper of culture and stories. It is these stories and experiences that she weaves into her work, an important element being to pass on culture and skills to new generations of makers. 

I am weaving animals to be stitched to my self-portrait, like they are pouring out of me. That’s how my weaving ideas come, flowing from my hands and body.

For Obsessed: Compelled to make Tjunkaya Tapaya’s work is a self-portrait titled Ngayulu Minyma Tjanpinya, I am a Tjanpi Woman.

Explore the Obsessed: Compelled to make website here

Image: Tjanpi Desert Weavers, 2010. Photo: R Hammerton.