Dorcas Tinnimai Bennett woven dog sculpture

A dog sculpture made by Dorcas Tinnimai Bennett, an artist living in Warakurna, WA.

Dorcas Bennet wove the papa (dog) sculpture from Tjanpi grass, acrylic wool, and raffia as part of the Tjanpi Desert Weavers collective. The green, red and yellow sculpture is 48 cm long, and 22 cm tall.

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 and older sister, who were both well-known basket makers.

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.

‘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.’ – Dorcas Tinnimai Bennet.

Tjanpi Desert Weavers (Tjanpi meaning ‘wild grass’) is an award-winning, Indigenous governed and directed social enterprise of the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council (NPYWC). Tjanpi empowers over 400 women across a 350,000 square km area of the tri-state region of NT, SA and WA to earn an income and remain in their communities on Country.

The sculpture is part of our shop collection celebrating Anmatyerr artist from Alhalker Country in the Northern Territory, Australia, Emily Kam Kngwarray.

• Artist Dorcas Tinnimai Bennett
• Dimensions L48cm x W20cm x H22cm
• Material Tjanpi grass, acrylic wool, raffia
• ISBN 30623