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Posted On: January 24th 2025, 02:54 am
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BSG PROJECTS PRESENTS
MARLGA (STRING BAGS)
ERICA WILFRED, JOCELYN WILFRED, JOY WILFRED, MAY WILFRED, MEGAN WILFRED, ROSE WILFRED & VIRGINIA WILFRED
NUMBULWAR NUMBURINDI ARTS
25 JAN–9 FEB 2025
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In the Ritharrngu language, 'garngu' refers to nets, but today it has come to symbolise the marine debris that invades our oceans — discarded fishing nets, shade cloth, nautical ropes, and other materials that pollute the waters and shorelines. Numburindi people first observed these ghost nets washing up on the beaches of Numbulwar in the 1980s. Today, these synthetic invaders are a pervasive threat in the Gulf of Carpentaria, harming marine life and disrupting traditional ways of life. Yet, from this environmental crisis, a new form of cultural expression has emerged.
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For thousands of years, the Numburindi people have crafted string bags — or 'marlga' in Ritharrngu — for both practical and ceremonial purposes. Traditionally made from pandanus or bark fibres and dyed with ochre, these bags were used to carry bush tucker and even wild honey. In recent years, however, the Wilfred women of Numbulwar, known as the Wagilak women, have transformed the art of string bag making by incorporating repurposed ghost nets and shade cloth.
In the Dhuwa creation stories of Arnhem Land, the Wagilak Women are revered as Creation Sisters. Through their artistry, the Wilfred sisters use contemporary materials, like garngu, to tell a story of environmental decline and the responsibilities of custodianship. Their colourful acrylics — replacing the traditional ochre stripes — serve as both clan markers and expressions of individual creativity. These new string bags bridge the old ways with the new, honouring tradition while addressing the pressing environmental challenges of today.
As artist Rose Wilfred reflects, "Every time we make a ghost net bag, we think of how our ancestors made string bags, combining the old ways and the new. We like working in both ways."
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Held in the Ground Floor Gallery from this weekend, 'Marlga' is presented by BSG Projects and Numbulwar Numburundi Arts from 25 January–9 February 2025.
To learn more, head to our website.
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MARLGA (STRING BAGS)
ERICA WILFRED, JOCELYN WILFRED, JOY WILFRED, MAY WILFRED, MEGAN WILFRED, ROSE WILFRED & VIRGINIA WILFRED
NUMBULWAR NUMBURINDI ARTS
25 JAN–9 FEB 2025
——
In the Ritharrngu language, 'garngu' refers to nets, but today it has come to symbolise the marine debris that invades our oceans — discarded fishing nets, shade cloth, nautical ropes, and other materials that pollute the waters and shorelines. Numburindi people first observed these ghost nets washing up on the beaches of Numbulwar in the 1980s. Today, these synthetic invaders are a pervasive threat in the Gulf of Carpentaria, harming marine life and disrupting traditional ways of life. Yet, from this environmental crisis, a new form of cultural expression has emerged.
——
For thousands of years, the Numburindi people have crafted string bags — or 'marlga' in Ritharrngu — for both practical and ceremonial purposes. Traditionally made from pandanus or bark fibres and dyed with ochre, these bags were used to carry bush tucker and even wild honey. In recent years, however, the Wilfred women of Numbulwar, known as the Wagilak women, have transformed the art of string bag making by incorporating repurposed ghost nets and shade cloth.
In the Dhuwa creation stories of Arnhem Land, the Wagilak Women are revered as Creation Sisters. Through their artistry, the Wilfred sisters use contemporary materials, like garngu, to tell a story of environmental decline and the responsibilities of custodianship. Their colourful acrylics — replacing the traditional ochre stripes — serve as both clan markers and expressions of individual creativity. These new string bags bridge the old ways with the new, honouring tradition while addressing the pressing environmental challenges of today.
As artist Rose Wilfred reflects, "Every time we make a ghost net bag, we think of how our ancestors made string bags, combining the old ways and the new. We like working in both ways."
——
Held in the Ground Floor Gallery from this weekend, 'Marlga' is presented by BSG Projects and Numbulwar Numburundi Arts from 25 January–9 February 2025.
To learn more, head to our website.
——
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