User:KindaSlightlyAcidic/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
She was born in the 1950's, speculated on July 1st, 1953 alongside her late twin brother David Gulpilil of whom passed away November 29th, 2021. There are conflicting reports on when Dhapalany and Gulpilil were born, with David Gulpilil himself stating in his 2021 documentary My Name is Gulpilil that he does not know his age. His birth was reportedly recorded by missionaries as July 1st, 1953, which would imply that Dhapalany shares this birthday as his twin sister. Beyond David Gulpilil, she has four other siblings including Djelirr, Belinda Gunydjulma, Evonne Munuyngu, and Peter Minygululu, of whom worked alongside her to film Ten Canoes. She hails from a family of artists, with her twin brother (yapa) David Gulpilil starring in many films including Crocodile Dundee, Rabbit-Proof Fence, and Walkabout. Her older brother Peter Minygululu is also a renowned 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 Aboriginal Language. This is reportedly the only film she ever took place in.

Weavings
Mary Dhapalany is accredited as an extremely 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 color 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
Mary Dhapalany was part of the Still Alive Aichi Triennale in 2022, with two of her weavings Woven Mat and Woven Wrap taking center stage. Her works span many collections, including the National Gallery of Victoria, Artbank, MAARA Collective, Kathmandu Triennale 2077 and The University of Chicago Booth School of Business (USA).

Her artwork has also been present within specific exhibits, including Garden of Six Seasons ,in Hong Kong, Telstra Natsiaa in Darwin, Australia, and Garden of Ten Seasons in Hong Kong and Berlin, Germany.