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Dorcas Tinnimai Bennett

Warakurna, WA

Dorcas Tinnimai Bennett

Dorcas Bennett was born at Wurturu rockhole near Kaltukatjara (Docker River) and now lives in Warakurna, WA.

Renowned for her hunting skills, especially for goannas, Dorcas loves to be on her country. She learnt weaving from family at Tjukurla community, in particular, her aunty older sister, who were both well-known basket makers.

Dorcas says, “I like to do Tjanpi work. I used to just make baskets but now I make animals as well. I use the same grass but in a different way. I like to mix up different coloured wools and raffia when I make baskets, like the different colours in the bush.” Of a dog she made in 2007, she said “This papa is Yilpangi from my mother’s country. That white tjukurrpa dog sits down there.”

Dorcas Tinnimai Bennett

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Dorcas has exhibited her Tjanpi works in numerous exhibitions, including String Theory at the Museum of Contemporary Art in 2013, as well as multiple Desert Mob exhibitions (2010 and 2016). Dorcas was also involved in the large scale collaborative work Kungkarangkalpa : Seven Sisters, commissioned by the National Gallery of Australia for the Know My Name : Australian Women Artists : From 1900 to Now exhibition, shown in 2020.

Along with being an exceptional and recognised fibre artist, Dorcas is also a respected painter having been represented by Warakurna Artists (of which she is also chairwoman) since 2006.

Tjanpi’s Artist Base

Made up of women from the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yakunytjatjara Lands, an area approximately 350,000 square kilometres in size spanning the tri-state border region of the Northern Territory, Western Australia, and South Australia.

Tjanpi represents over 400 artists from 26 remote communities. These artists range from the women who first started making baskets in 1995 to younger generations who are taking up weaving today. Making baskets and sculptures from tjanpi (grass) is a fundamental part of Central and Western desert culture for these women.

Please note, the below list of featured artists is not a comprehensive and exhaustive list of all Tjanpi artists.