Draft:Mary Dhapalany

Mary Dhapalany, skin name Bilinydjan, is a Yolŋu Indigenous Australian weaver from the Mandhalpuy clan within Ramingining, Arnhem Land. As a part of the Yolŋu, she belongs to the Dhuwa Moiety.

Biography
Dhapalany was born in the 1950s, alongside her twin brother David Gulpilil. There are conflicting reports on when Dhapalany and Gulpilil were born, with Gulpilil stating in his 2021 documentary My Name is Gulpilil that he did not know his age. His birth was reportedly recorded by missionaries as July 1, 1953, which would imply that Dhapalany shares this birthday as his twin sister. She she has four other siblings, Djelirr, Belinda Gunydjulma, Evonne Munuyngu, and Peter Minygululu, who worked alongside her to film Ten Canoes. They are a family of artists, with Gulpilil starring in many films including Crocodile Dundee, Rabbit-Proof Fence, and Walkabout. Her older brother Peter Minygululu is also an Aboriginal artist, but his work is mainly reserved for ceremonial practice.

Film career
Dhapalany, alongside many other Aboriginals, starred in the 2006 film Ten Canoes, the first film to be created solely in an Aboriginal language.

Weavings
Dhapalany is accredited as a skilled weaver known for her innovative work with pandanus. She spends most of her time creating weavings at Bula'Bula Arts Centre in Ramingining, Arnhem Land. She mainly creates dilly bags (mindirr), pandanus mats, and fish traps. Most if not all of her weavings utilize pandanus leaves that she gathers alongside other female weavers including her sister Evonne Munuyngu. The coloration of her weavings is achieved by using a rock against the pandanus roots to create different dyes based on the colour of the root.

Some of her most famous weavings include Woven Mat and Woven Wrap which were part of the Aichi Triennale Art Exhibit in 2022. Woven Mat and Woven Wrap were created with the concept of Dreaming in mind, circling back to the emphasis of connection to people, spirits, and the land within the Dhuwa moiety.

Artistic collections
Dhapalany was part of the Still Alive Aichi Triennale in 2022, with her weavings Woven Mat and Woven Wrap taking center stage. Her artwork has also been present within the Garden of Six Seasons in Hong Kong, Telstra Natsiaa in Darwin and Garden of Ten Seasons in Hong Kong and Berlin.