Patsy Marfura is a Ngangiwumerri speaker, born at the Daly River Mission, Northern Territory, in 1942.
In her late thirties Marfura moved her husband and six children to Peppimenarti, also in the Northern Territory. Patsy’s mother’s family are the traditional owners of the land on which the Peppimenarti community is located. There, her grandmother and other elders taught her to weave dilly bags and mats.
Marfura started painting in 2001. By transferring the patterns and rhythms of weaving and body painting directly onto the canvas, her work realises sculptural forms in two dimensions.
The paintings of Peppimenarti are based upon traditional weaving and durrmu designs. These are complemented by the women artists’ pandanus and sand palm fibre weaving work. (The men’s art lies in the production of body paint designs and cultural articles. Many of the male artists paint their inherited didgeridu designs.)
Peppimenarti was founded in the mid 1970s as a permanent settlement for the Ngangikurrunggurr people. 'Peppi’ translates as rock and 'menarti’ as large, refer-ring to the rock formation that overlooks the community. At its base is a wide stream and a series of pools which is a significant, sacred site. The community is located 250km south west of Darwin and 100km from the Daly River crossing.
Marfura predominantly paints durrmu (dot body painting) and fi (sand-palm twine) subjects. The sand-palm twine is the fibre used for weaving dilly bags and fish nets. The fi paintings are restrained studies of organic line, whereas her durrmu are layered veils of dotted marks using carefully chosen colour studies: browns, plums and purples or citrus tones.
- Writers:
- Durrmu Arts
- Date written:
- 2007
- Last updated:
- 2008
