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.

This long-sustained practice, though it was not without its complications, fostered economic, material, linguistic and cultural exchange between the Makassans of Southern Sulawesi and First Nations peoples (Yolŋu, Tiwi, Anindilyakwa, among others) of what is now termed “northern Australia”. The enduring legacy of these interactions is evident in language, with at least 350 words shared between Makassan and Yolŋu Matha alone. Song, dance, and kinship also came to be shared, and even the tamarind trees rooted along this continent's northern coastline stand as living witnesses to these visits. In exchange for trepang, tortoise shell and pearls, the Makassans imported metal, fabrics, tobacco, wine and rice to these lands, with a profound and lasting impact on First Nations.

In 1907, this centuries-old tradition was abruptly ended by the Australian government’s imposition of prohibitive duties on trepangers, rendering their operations unsustainable. Despite this sudden severance, oral histories of these bonds between peoples persisted in stories told and retold across generations.

The exhibition Taripang/Dharripa/Trepang revisits these narratives, contributing to a broader, necessary truth-telling about these lands’ rich pre-colonial history. These are important stories that remain unfamiliar to many who live here despite that importance. These are not the first, nor will they be the last tellings of the story of trepang. Each retelling is vital in its memory of the intertwined legacies of the Makassans and First Nations. Taripang/Dharripa/Trepang resonates with energetic intercultural dialogues. It features works newly commissioned from First Nations and Indonesian artists alongside loans of both contemporary and historical pieces from Indigenous Art Centres, museums and private collections. Its barks, paintings, prints, ceramics, weavings, installations and multimedia works each reflect on histories that enliven a perpetual and mutual artistic reinvention.

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.