Sharing the National Collection

FABRIK is proud to welcome two batiks from the National Gallery of Australia for long term display. Batik is a dyeing technique that has been developed to sophisticated levels in Indonesia. It plays multiple roles in the culture of Indonesia, especially in Javanese culture.

In the 1970s batik techniques were taken up by Aboriginal women in the Utopia region in the Northern Territory and in Ernabella in South Australia, with a group of Ernabella artists travelling to Indonesia to learn the technique. Over the next 30 years Ernabella became renowned for the intricate batik silks that were created there.

The two works on display – a selendang from Indonesia and a silk batik by Ernabella artist Angkuna Kulyuru – connect a rich cultural history shared by Indonesia and these First Nations communities in Australia.

These works of art are on long term loan from the National Gallery of Australia with support from the Australian Government as part of Sharing the National Collection. #artacrossaustralia

Image Credit: Angkuna Kulyuru, Pitjantjatjara people, Untitled, 1984, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, founding Donors’ Fund 1984, Angkuna Kulyuru, Ernabella Arts

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