Koskela Gallery presents Wuladhi Ruluj

Artist
Joy Wilfred, Virginia Wilfred, Megan Wilfred, Yulki Nunggumajbarr, Nicole Wilfred, Mawungumain Nundhirribala, Rose Wilfred, Betty Mirniyowan, Joyce Murrungun, Lillian Joshua, Florence Murrungun, Janette Murrungun,
Exhibition
Wuladhi Ruluj
Year
24th April - 6th June 2021

The Koskela Gallery is pleased to present, Wuladhi Ruluj, a sustainable collection of woven works from Numbulwar Numburindi Arts.

“We want to share our culture with the world, through art” - Yulki Nunggumajbarr

Wuladhi means light and Ruluj means shade in Nunggubuyu, encompassing the new collaboration between Koskela and Numbulwar Numburindi Arts. Fibre artists from Numbulwar harvest ghost nets, reclaimed fishing nets, from their shores to use in the weaving of these lampshades, baskets, dilly bags and accessories. Marrying traditional weaving techniques with this colourful and contemporary material cleans up the oceans in a modern act of caring for Country, while preserving ancient weaving techniques and passing on culture to future generations.

Numbulwar Numburindi Arts is built on self-determination and exists to keep culture strong. Artists use a combination of materials including naturally-dyed pandanus and reclaimed materials such as ghost nets and shade cloths, which find their way into the Gulf of Carpentaria via ocean currents and harm marine life in their wake. Ghost nets account for 30-50% of all ocean plastic and take 600 years to break down. Numbulwar’s fibre artists have embraced these materials in the creation of new work, adopting the bright colours for clan identification and individual expression.

This range of Wuladhi Ruluj marks the artists first major departure away from traditional objects to new forms. Yulki Nunggumajbarr has captured the colours of her homelands in these pieces - the earth, sea, sky and native flora.

Download the catalogue.

Not only does Wuladhi Ruluj showcase ingenuity and innovation through the artists’ use of materials by harnessing reclaimed objects, but it also celebrates women in the arts, as all eleven artisans are female.

“When I was a little girl, I would sit beside my grandmother and she taught me how to weave a basket with pandanus. She told me that when I grow up, passing on and teaching others how to make basket is important for our future.” – Rose Wilfred

Through their practice, Numbulwar Numburindi Arts are helping to divert plastic from the ocean and vulnerable sea life by combining their traditional weaving skills and innovation.

The launch of Wuladhi Ruluj auspiciously falls on Earth Day, a pertinent day to reflect on humans’ impact on the planet and what we can do to reduce our carbon footprint.

“The scale of the bushfires added to perceptions that the frequency and severity of natural disasters are increasing as temperates rise, and the public – in the absence of a sufficient government response worldwide – must take stronger action on climate change, principally through its collective investment power” – Tony Featherstone, Australian Financial Review, 2020.

By supporting forward thinking and sustainable artists and small businesses like Numbulwar Numburindi Arts, you are voting with your dollar to support independent, environmentally aware and First Nations businesses.

Click here to make your voice heard in parliament to demand climate action.