Nora and Anawari use long sailmaker needles threaded with wool to sew in the hair. Anawari describes how they shape the hair to look like it is flying in the wind.
Anawari uses wool to attach a layer of grass around the body of the figure and Nora rubs the grass to prepare it. Gradually the sister takes shape as they secure the handfuls of grass by tightly winding wool and raffia over and around the figure.
Anawari and Jo Foster, of Tjanpi Desert Weavers, assess progress and the orientation of the yipi (breasts). The artists decide how to outline the yipi using a coil of yellow raffia and tjanpi (grass).
Anawari Inpiti Mitchell and Nora Nyutjanka Davidson are both established tjanpi artists with work in major collecting institutions.
Video: Christiane Keller, National Museum of Australia
