This publication stems from the exhibition “String Craft: Bilum + Dilly Bags”, co-curated by Anne Farren and Gina Koczberski for the 2024 Indian Ocean Craft Triennial.  It was presented in the Curtin DBE exhibition space.

The exhibition explored the cultural and gendered significance of string crafts to indigenous Australian and Papua New Guinean communities. A range of traditional and contemporary bilum styles, patterns and fibres were on display. The bilums came from private collections representing bilums from the Sepik, Highlands and coastal areas of PNG – largely bilums gifted to the researchers in the Pacific Livelihoods Research Group, whose work in PNG spans over three decades.

Dilly-bag inspired art installations were presented by leading First Nations WA artists Lea Taylor and Katie West.  Their works sat alongside a selection of dilly bags and textile artworks from Northern Territory artists from Bula’Bula Arts, Ramingining and Bábbarra Women’s Centre, Maningrida Arts & Culture, Maningrida.  Together the collection of works conveyed the diverse forms of indigenous string crafts in Australia and PNG and their transformation over recent times.

The curation of this large collection of works benefitted greatly from working closely with indigenous artist Lea Taylor and Papua New Guinean, Linda Bina. They acted as cultural advisors and helped us explore the intercultural connections found in the making of dilly bags and PNG bilums.

Full reference:

Koczberski, G. and Farren, A. 2025. String Craft: Bilum + Dilly Bags. Exhibition Catalogue. Curtin University, Perth. http://doi.org/10.25917/D1ED-Y390

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