Taripang / Dharripa / Trepang

Long before the British colonised the lands and waters which are now known as Australia, Makassan sea traders embarked annually on voyages to the Northern Territory and the Kimberley region, drawn by the rich abundance of taripang/dharripa/trepang – edible, slow-moving sea cucumbers that sit at the bottom of shallow sea beds.

These journeys were undertaken from the port of Makassar in Sulawesi and benefited from seasonal winds to navigate treacherous waters in search of these lucrative commodities. Each year these “trepanging” fleets transported up to 400 tonnes of the fleshy sea slugs to China, where the cooked and dried animals were prized as a delicacy, stimulant and aphrodisiac.

The works assembled in Taripang/Dharripa/Trepang demonstrate the great stories shared by the Makassans and First Nations are not just chapters of the past. These narratives continue to unfold, and remain crucial to understanding these lands. These stories are to be continued.

Curated by Petrit Abazi. In collaboration with, Abdi Karya (SalamFest-Marege Institute), Aboriginal Sea Company, Agency Projects, Bábbarra Women’s Centre, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education Art Collection, Bill Davies, Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Art Centre, Charles Darwin University Art Collection and Art Gallery, Djómi Museum, Don Christopherson, Jilamara Arts & Crafts Association, Milingimbi Art & Culture, Will Stubbs and Zoë Slee.