Dhungala, 2023

Glenda Nicholls is a master weaver based in Swan Hill, Victoria. She is a Yorta Yorta, Waddi Waddi and Ngarrindjeri woman. Nicholls specialises in fishnet weaving, and other fibre works. Her work acknowledges the hand-fishing technique used by her maternal grandmother, Emily Karpany (nee Pinkie), and the bamboo pole fishing technique used by her paternal grandmother, Lady Gladys Nicholls (nee Bux).

In Nicholls’ own words; “the nets that were once used as tools are now turned into art to keep process and techniques alive… The river is an important part of Yorta Yorta Country, and so fishing nets were historically used to hunt river fish along its sources.”

In 2020, Nicholls was awarded the University of Melbourne Hutchinson Indigenous Fellowship in support of her major commission work, Miwi Milloo (Good spirit of the Murray River) exhibited as a part of the National Gallery of Victoria’s 2020 Triennial. Nicholls’ other awards include the Victorian Indigenous Art Award for Three Dimensional Works (2012) and the VIAA Koorie Heritage Trust Acquisition Award (2015). The Dhungala net snakes down from the ceiling throughout the void space and transforms into a body of water. The wise winyah (woman), stands nearby with her digging stick silently looking outover the land with love and contentment in her eyes.

Glenda Nicholls shares the story of Dhungala with us. She says, “I acknowledge Aunty Lois Peeler for sending me this story, and my elder sister Janice Muir as she recalls and re-tells me the oral story of Dhungala so that I may now tell it to you in my own words.” 

Listen to Glenda Nicholls tell the story of Dhungala via the link below.