Numbulwar is an Aboriginal community located in the Gulf of Carpentaria, in the southeast of Arnhem Land. In this tropical region grows the pandanus spiralis, a shrub whose long, spiny leaves are hand-harvested by Aboriginal women. They extract the fibres, dye them with natural pigments sourced from the local flora, and then dry them in the sun. This ancestral know-how reflects a deep understanding of the environment and the intergenerational transmission of culture.

The prepared fibres are then woven to create mats in vibrant colours and varied patterns, inspired by the artist’s homeland. Each piece is unique, bearing the imprint of the culture and region of its maker. Once conical or triangular in shape and used in daily life, these mats are now often round and created for decorative purposes, while preserving their symbolic significance.