Circular mat 2003

This circular mat is a fine example of Judy Baypungala’s fibre art. Closely-woven bands of intense colour 'anchor' areas of open weave — in particular, one of golden yellow that contrasts starkly with the predominantly rich orange-to-red colour of the body of the mat. A dramatic fringe results from threads left to flow from the untrimmed, radiating warp. Interestingly, the colours in the mat are all from the same dye source, the yellow root bark of a small tree commonly found in the north of Australia. The addition of white ashes, found and collected in the savannah bush land after fires have passed, change the bright yellow fibres to shades of orange and red.