Revealed to the public at Saturday's National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) Gala red carpet, Miriwoong artists Peggy Griffiths and Cathy Ward have created two couture gowns as part of the NGV's biennial Indigenous Fashion Commission.
Drawing inspiration from the sacred native plants central to life and culture in Western Australia's Kimberley region, the garments are as visually engaging as they are symbolic.
Griffiths' design, Jilinybeng Jardang (Bush Cucumber and Spinifex), draws upon the interrelationship of bush tuckers including the bush cucumber, a recurring motif in her art-making practice.
The bush cucumber and spinifex are both indicative of the wet season in the Kimberley, with Griffiths' sculptural construction of the native vegetable on the garment showcasing the multi-sensory prowess of Country.
This gown embodies both her family's deep cultural knowledge and unbreakable connection to the land in the Kimberley, where Griffiths lives and works.
Cathy Ward, Griffiths' granddaughter, has designed a garment that pays tribute to the boab tree, a powerful symbol of the Kimberley.
In the region's arid, dry climate, boab trees serve as natural reservoirs, storing water within their thick trunks.
For Indigenous communities, these trees carry deep cultural meaning, representing both physical and spiritual nourishment.
Peggy Griffiths is a founding member of Waringarri Aboriginal Arts and has worked at the centre since 1985, with her practise spanning carving, painting, printmaking, textile and fashion design.
As part of the Indigenous Fashion Commission, Griffiths has mentored her granddaughter, Cathy Ward, who is a multidisciplinary artist and board member for Waringarri Aboriginal Arts.
Both garments were realised with the support of seamstresses Sally Jackson and Lynelle Flinders, facilitated by First Nations Fashion + Design, led by Grace Lillian Lee.
To showcase the gowns in all their glory, the garments were worn on the NGV Gala red carpet by emerging First Nations models, Lisa Fatnowna and Charvarnie Walsh.
The NGV's Indigenous Fashion Commission invites First Nations artists and designers to create couture garments for the NGV's permanent collection, showcasing Indigenous designers on the national and international stage.
The project first launched in 2022 with a gown designed by Julie Shaw, a Yuwaalaraay designer, in collaboration with Bula'Bula weavers Evonne Munuyngu, Lisa Lalaywarra Gurrulpa, Serena Gubuyani, Mary Dhapalany, and Margaret Djarbalarbal Malibirr from Ramingining, Western Arnhem Land.
Director at NGV, Tony Ellwood, shared his excitement about this year's Indigenous Fashion Commission.
"Pairing grandmother with granddaughter, the 2024 Indigenous Fashion Commission is a resplendent celebration of First Nations couture that shares important stories and motifs from the designers' Country in the Kimberley," Ellwood said.
"We are indebted to Krystyna Campbell Pretty and Family, whose passionate support of the NGV's Fashion and Textiles collection has been truly transformative in recent years."
Supported by philanthropist Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM and family and Vogue Australia, the garments will enter the NGV's permanent collection and go on display at the NGV International in February, 2025.
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