When Dilly Bags Catch the Light

When Dilly Bags Catch the Light is an inspiring art installation exploring a matrilineal line of storytelling by First Nations artist and designer Delvene Cockatoo-Collins, on display at Brisbane Quarter on Podium 1, Atrium, from March 5 to May 10.

Created through reflection on her time with her mother and her great-great-grandmother’s dilly bags, this installation is about honouring her matrilineal line whilst adapting techniques and materials to make the practice her own.

The installation displays three large-scale stylised dilly bags, created with traditionally sourced materials from Minjerribah including quampie shells, tawalpin - cotton tree fibres and yungair freshwater reed, dyed and printed linen and wire.

Delvene Cockatoo-Collins lives and works on Quandamooka Country, and her practice embodies a deep connection to land, culture and ancestry. Her work carries stories and techniques passed down through generations by her mother Evelyn and grandmother Bethel, honouring thousands of years of cultural knowledge and tradition while sharing the enduring spirit of Quandamooka Country.

The work reflects the space and time of gathering, drawing on the places where fibres and shellfish, including quampies, are traditionally collected and stored. Subtle shimmering elements woven through the fabric reference light, memory and continuity, bringing a quiet sense of movement and presence to the installation.

In addition to the main art installation, an array of garments will also be on display from a range of Ms Cockatoo-Collins’ previous fashion runway collections, including garments featured at Melbourne Fashion Festival, Brisbane Fashion Festival, Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, and Melbourne Fringe Festival.

Good to know - Make a day (or night) of visiting this installation at Brisbane Quarter. After immersing yourself in the display below, head upstairs and indulge in a premium dining experience. Brisbane Quarter's standout restaurants including Annamese, Brisbane Phoenix, Persone, Phat Boy and Tenya

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