Brisbane Quarter presents When Dilly Bags Catch the Light, an inspiring art installation exploring a matrilineal line of storytelling by First Nations artist and designer Delvene Cockatoo-Collins, on display from 5 March to 10 May on Podium 1, Atrium.
Created through reflection on her time with her mother and her great-great-grandmother’s dilly bags, this installation is about honouring her matrilineal line whilst adapting techniques and materials to make the practice her own. The installation displays three large-scale stylised dilly bags, created with traditionally sourced materials from Minjerribah including quampie shells, tawalpin – cotton tree fibres and yungair freshwater reed, dyed and printed linen and wire.
Delvene Cockatoo-Collins lives and works on Quandamooka Country, and her practice embodies a deep connection to land, culture and ancestry. Her work carries stories and techniques passed down through generations by her mother Evelyn and grandmother Bethel, honouring thousands of years of cultural knowledge and tradition while sharing the enduring spirit of Quandamooka Country.
The work reflects the space and time of gathering, drawing on the places where fibres and shellfish, including quampies, are traditionally collected and stored. Subtle shimmering elements woven through the fabric reference light, memory and continuity, bringing a quiet sense of movement and presence to the installation.
When talking about her practice, Artist, Delvene Cockatoo-Collins, said that When Dilly Bags Catch the Light invites audiences to connect to her country and honour her maternal lineage.
In addition to the main art installation, an array of garments will also be on display from a range of Ms Cockatoo-Collins’ previous fashion runway collections, including garments featured at Melbourne Fashion Festival, Brisbane Fashion Festival, Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, and Melbourne Fringe Festival.
Make a day (or night) of visiting this installation at Brisbane Quarter. After immersing yourself in the display below, head upstairs and indulge in a premium dining experience at one of Brisbane Quarter’s standout restaurants, including Annamese, Brisbane Phoenix, Phat Boy, Persone, and Tenya.
When Dilly Bags Catch the Light is free to visit and open daily from 5 March to 10 May at Brisbane Quarter, 300 George Street, Brisbane.
In response to ‘Olafur Eliasson: Presence’, now showing at Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) until 12 July 2026, this installation aims to reflect on landscape, light, and human experience of Country.
Brisbane Quarter’s commitment to the arts is shared by its owners, Shayher Group, Major Partners of the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA).
Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson invites audiences on an expansive, multi-sensory journey that engages our sense of perception. The Brisbane-exclusive exhibition draws from his three‑decade career, including important early works and expansive site-specific installations, many developed especially for ‘Presence’.
