Cushion Cover Wool 40cm (16in)

These beautiful, unique textiles are a cross-cultural collaboration combining Aboriginal designs and traditional Kashmiri handicraft. The chain-stitched (Gabba in local Kashmiri) cushions are hand stitched by rural folk in remote villages in one specific region of Kashmir. Over generations they have honed their skills and refined their hand crafted produce. Only the most skilful artisans can faithfully reproduce the images we send to them. Aboriginal artists in remote regions in Australia, as well as others living in our cities, benefit from regular royalties paid monthly, as well as using these products to tell other people about their rich cultural heritage.

In this design Betsy Napangardi Lewis is illustrating the story of Mina Mina Jukurrpa.

A group of women travelled east creating Janyinki and other sites beyond Warlpiri country. Warlpiri paintings use traditional iconography to represent the Jukurrpa sites and other elements.

Karlangu, digging sticks which rose up out out of the ground at Mina Mina. This painting shows the motion of the digging sticks as the women move them to dig. 

The pure wool is dyed in situ and the stitching is done by hand, the chain-stitch being a traditional Kashmiri handicraft.