A new show in Mumbai highlights Australia's fascinating aboriginal textile art

Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell first learnt about the indigenous art of aboriginal women in 2021 and he immediately commissioned a gold and green-coloured Nehru jacket for himself, in the colours of Australia. Pic/Atul Kamble

It was in 2021, when the world was still under the grip of COVID-19, and the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair of Australia was being virtually held, that the Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O'Farrell first learnt about the indigenous art of aboriginal women. Farell immediately commissioned a gold and green-coloured Nehru jacket for himself, in the colours of Australia. This jacket, along with a powerful ensemble of indigenous Australian textile art, has now come to India for the first time. On display at the ARTISANS' art gallery and shop in Kala Ghoda, Jarracharra, meaning dry season wind, showcases screen-printed textiles created by 17 female First Nation artistes from one of the most remote art centres in the world, the Bábbarra Women's Centre. Established as a women's refuge in 1987, the centre in Maningrida, Arnhem Land in Australia's northern territory, supports more than 30 women artistes.

Jarracharra is a metaphor for the way the Bábbarra Women's Centre brings different aboriginal cultures and stories together, just as Jarracharra winds have brought these people together for ceremony, dance and ritual for over thousand years.

"With India getting its first tribal President, bringing focus to this aspect of the country, it is terrific for us to display the diversity of Australia as well," says Farrell, when we meet him at the gallery. Farrell sees parallels between aboriginal art and that which is produced by tribal communities in India. "Each of these art pieces by the women either depicts nature, their way of life, their traditional stories, food, sea or village life. And I have seen how Indian tribal art form also depicts village life in mesmerising layers of design and colour. I am no artist, but I can see the similarities."

Radhi Parekh, founder director of ARTISANS', says that with the UN kicking off the International Decade of Indigenous Languages: 2022-2032, it makes it even more important for people to witness these art forms. "The exhibits have been created by women from nine language groups, celebrating the cultural and linguistic diversity of the region," she says. Farell believes that this is another significant step in cross-country collaboration and cooperation. "We know from the history of both our countries that there are connections between our indigenous people and we want to continue working on improving those links."

WHAT: Jarracharra, Australian indigenous textile art exhibition
WHERE: ARTISANS', Kala Ghoda
WHEN: Till February 20, 11 AM - 7 PM
CALL: 9820145397