Brisbane is home to countless local artists who are constantly producing and showcasing stunning works. But it’s not only our world-class museums that house them: in our city there is art everywhere for those with eyes to see.
At this very moment, Brisbane Quarter is all dressed up in Delvene Cockatoo-Collins’ When Dilly Bags Catch the Light, an inspiring art installation exploring a matrilineal line of storytelling by this First Nations artist and designer.
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’s work shares the enduring spirit of Quandamooka Country and embodies a deep connection to land, culture and ancestry, carrying stories and techniques passed down through generations and honouring thousands of years of cultural knowledge and tradition.
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.
Through these heartfelt choices and connections, the artist invites audiences to connect to her country and honour her maternal lineage.
And, in addition to the main art installation, an array of garments will also be on display from a range of her 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.
Practical information
When Dilly Bags Catch the Light is now on display in Podium 1, Atrium at Brisbane Quarter.
The exhibition is open daily and will run until May 10. It is also free to visit!
📍Brisbane Quarter, 300 George St, Brisbane CBD
