Pinuka Yai Yai Basket

Pinuka (Margaret) Yai Yai is an ar􀆟st belonging to the Pitjantjatjara language and cultural group, and lives in the remote community of Mimili, South Australia.

Pinuka has developed a distnct weaving style stemming from her neat and methodical approach to the art. She is meticulous and
controlled in her weaving style, resulting in strong, eye-catching works.

In recent years, Pinuka has explored weaving on metal frames, a method which allows her weaving technique to shine. Along with making beautiful fibre frame works, Pinuka creates gorgeous characterfilled sculptures and elegant baskets. She works with local na􀆟ve grasses, hand-dyed raffia and wool, always weaving with great attention to detail.

Pinuka has taken part in mul􀆟ple exhibi􀆟ons, including Mutukaku Ngura: Motorcar Country at Australian Design Centre in 2023, where she produced a hanging fiber sculpture using a salvaged car seat frame from community. The work is similar to her contribution to Desert Mob 30 exhibition in 2021, titled Shapes from Country. This work referenced shapes and forms found on Country, and the tools and equipment made and used by women in pre-contact times.

In 2022, Pinuka took part in a collaborative commission project for Guildhouse Studios and the Department of Infrastructure and Transport (DIT), creating four suspended artworks reflecting the topography across Mimili and Indulkana. Twenty-five fibre artits from these communities worked on the large-scale pieces, which are now located within each entry lobby across four floors of the newly developed DIT office building in the Adelaide CBD.

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.