Indian Museum and Australian Consulate General in Kolkata had organised ‘Jarracharra: Dry Season Wind’, a remarkable collection of textiles by indigenous artists from Babbarra Women’s Centre, Maningrida Region, Northern Territory, Australia.
This new exhibition features seventeen women artists and showcases a powerful collection of Aboriginal women’s textile art from the Western Arnhem Land that pushes barriers to depict ancient narratives using contemporary mediums.
The designs presented in this exhibition were developed over many years with generations of women during Maningrida community workshops.
‘Jarracharra’, a term in the Burarra language, is the powerful cool wind that blows across Arnhem Land each dry season, signifying the beginning of a period of exchange between clans and an annual ceremonial coming together.
Used as a powerful metaphor this word brings together different Aboriginal cultures and stories from across Arnhem Land.
The exhibition presents a rich variety of textile designs from a range of Bábbarra eras.
The majority of artists in this exhibition are Kuninjku; however, there are also artists from the Gurr-goni, Ndjébbana, Mawng, Burarra, Djambarrpuyngu, Djinang, Rembarrnga, Kriol and Kune languages.
The exhibition at the Museum will be held till 22 January 2023.