Maningrida Arts and Culture
Maureen Ali — 'Burlupurr - large dillybag' 302-25, Maningrida Arts and Culture
Burlupurr, or dilly bag, is a large woven collecting basket. These large 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 bags are used to collect any kind of large numbers of heavy foods such as fish caught in conical fish traps or large collections of yams.
They can also be made from Pandanus spiralis, a plant which grows in many areas of Arnhem Land. These dilly bags are a tightly woven collecting basket, very finely made. These dilly bags 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 associated with particular sites in the landscape.
—
Maureen Ali
Skin Name: Gotjan / Language: Burarra (Martay) / Clan: Gamarl / Moiety:Yirrchinga
Maureen Ali learned to weave under the guidance of her sister Bonny Burarn.garra, a highly skilled fibre artist who has exhibited in commercial galleries around Australia since the 1990s. She also learned from her watching her mother, leading fibre artist Lorna Jin-gubarrangunyja, who won the Wandjuk Marika Award at the 20th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award (NATSIAA) in 2013 with a colourful pandanus fish trap.
Maureen has been practicing since 2006. She is Burarra, one of the east-side language groups who specialise in the customary conical dilly bags, woven string bags and mats. She is particularly renowned for the use of mirlarl, (malaisia scandens), a type of vine that grows in the coastal jungle. The use of this vine to manufacture fish traps, barriers and large strong dillybags is unique to this region.
—
Maningrida Arts and Culture x Craft
July 2 – August 29 2026
'Manngarre/Mannga brings together fifteen dynamic artists in a landmark collaboration between the Maningrida Arts and Culture and Craft Victoria. This exhibition celebrates fibre works that are more than objects; they carry cultural knowledge, storytelling, and innovation. Each piece reflects generations of practice, individual creativity, and the natural materials of bush and jungle Country, deeply tied to the weaver’s clan estate.
Maningrida Arts & Culture is one of Australia's oldest Aboriginal community-controlled art and culture centres, dating back to 1963. Located in central west Arnhem Land, it supports artists from 12 language groups, 32 homelands and 110 clans.
Manngarre, meaning jungle in Kuninjku language, and Mannga its equivalent in Burarra/Gun-nartpa respectively, is an exhibition of intricately woven works by women fibre artists of the Maningrida region.
Maureen Ali / Freda Ali / Cecille Baker / Louwa Bardaluna / Bonnie Burarngarra / Dorothy Bunibuni / Nola Garrba / Lorna Jin-gubarrangunyja (Dec) / Jocelyn Koyole / Samantha Malkudja / Sylvia Marrgawaidj / Annalese Morris / Basma Nulla / Jennifer Prudence / Philomena Wilson
Read more about the exhibition here:
Material: Jungle Vine (Malaisia Scandens) and Kurrajong (Brachychiton Diversifolius)
Dimensions: 29 x 13 x 13cm
Cat. no: 302-25
Please note when purchasing, exhibition works are to be collected when exhibition closes.
Shipping costs may be estimates. Please feel free to contact shop@craft.org.au who will be available to provide an Art Courier quote or shipping costs for larger items.