Joanne Yindiri Guyula

b. 1985

18 x 14cm

Pandanus Spiralis, natural bush dyes

Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts Catalogue :22-896

Bulpu are made from Gunga (Pandanus Spiralis), using a twining process. The twining technique may be thought of as the twisting together of elements. Artists take two twisting lengths of pandanus and work them across a series of vertical or radiating lengths. The twisting lengths are the ‘active’ elements of the structure and the radiating lengths are ‘passive’. Variation occurs through changing the density, the order, or the colour. The Gunga is coloured with natural bush dyes. Balgurr Raki (hand spun string from the Kurrajong tree) is used to finish the Bulpu and provide a handle. The Bulpu design is based on the traditional Bathi or Dimbuka, used in ceremonies. Bulpu are also used for collecting and carrying. During the Wangarr (Dreaming), creator ancestors carried Bulpu, they could be envisaged as carrying the law and the ‘stuff’ to create life.

Text courtesy of Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts

Joanne plays many roles in her homeland at Doyndji (pronounced doy-n-ji) a small remote Indigenous community in North East Arnhem Land. 

She is a teacher, leader and accomplished artist. She first learnt from her mother and now is learning from her sister Rena Garmundawuy.                                         Her fibre work is particularly fine and and beautifully finished.

In 2019, a feature documentary entitled ‘Homeland Story‘ made about Donydji was released. 

It’s a moving portrait of Joanne’s family’s struggle to preserve their culture and remain on their Homeland despite the severe obstacles they face, such as sub-standard education, lack of job opportunities for youth, inadequate government policy, bureaucratic mismanagement and pressure from mining interests.

The film was directed by award-winning director Glenda Hambly and co-produced by Damien Guyula –  Donydji community’s representative, who translated the Yolngu languages spoken in the film, supervised the sub-titling and became the film’s narrator.

Homeland Story tracks a Donydji family’s transition from nomadic life to the digital age in just three generations – from Dhulutarama, the traditional elder who still knew how to make stone tools, to his granddaughter, Joanne Yindiri Guyula.