Tammy Gilson Wadawurrung woman
Title of artwork: buniya beenyak
Artist: Tammy Gilson
Year: 2024
Medium: Bronze cast originally woven from murmbal - black panther flax
Size: 5.7 metres
Artist Statement
The practice of weaving buniya beenyak (eel basket) for eeling of short-finned eels (Anguilla australis) among Wadawurrung kinkinbil/people is a significant cultural tradition that intertwines knowledge with social practice.
The inherited right of process is determined for the right time to harvest plant materials to weave buniya beenyak. Structures of stone and wood are placed along specific waters to create a system that enable the placement of buniya beenyak, designed to channel and direct buniya, facilitating their capture during their migration journey to the warmer waters of the Coral Sea to spawn. Their migration is a critical part of their purpose and life cycle, showcasing their endurance and adaptability, upon the return journey to water Country. Buniya was often smoked with hot ashes from the fire and eaten. Tammy says, "weaving Buniya Beenyak has a childhood memory for me and I would often go fishing on Country with my brother and catch buniya".
About the Artist
Tammy Gilson is a traditional weaver and multi award winning artist who’s love for weaving is enriched by her work with cultural fire, grounding it in a deep understanding of Country, plants and animals. Tammy’s holistic approach not only shapes her work but also serves to empower, inspire, and embody Cultural resilience. Through her weaving, Tammy bridges traditional knowledge and contemporary expression, creating a powerful narrative that celebrates and sustains Wadawurrung culture.