Australian design brand Koskela has collaborated with indigenous artisans to make a series of hand-woven lights using locally harvested plant materials and natural dyes.
The Ngalya lighting collection was created as part of Koskela's Yu?a Ba?ayala project, which translates as "in a new light".
The project saw the brand work with Yolngu weavers from six art centres located across Elcho Island in Arnhem Land, Australia, to design a series of woven lampshades using native fibres, such as pandanus grass and bush string.
As the colourful lamps are handmade by the weavers, each one is unique ? a product of the individual artist's interpretation.
The Ngalya collection has been longlisted in the Dezeen Awards 2019 within the lighting design category.
The lamps incorporate natural materials that have been used by Yolngu women for centuries to make objects for ceremonies, hunting and carrying goods.
"Koskela came to us with the idea of doing our weaving on lampshades, and I thought it would be interesting to take our traditional Yolngu materials and use them on Balanda objects," said Mavis Ganambarr, a senior weaver from Elcho Island.
Ganambarr feels that continuing to use these traditional techniques, which she was taught by her grandmother, and applying them to contemporary design is important in keeping their culture strong.
"We all thought this would be a good way to show a new audience what can be done by Yolngu artists with materials from the bush,&quo...