Madonna bra
2007
Medium
Pandanus (Pandanus sp.), natural dyes
Measurements
(25.0 × 40.0 × 12.0 cm)
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of Glenn Manson, 2025
© Margaret Rarrau/Licensed by Copyright Agency, Australia
Gallery location
Gallery 1
Ground Level, NGV Australia
About this work
While grounded in traditional knowledge, Margaret Rarru’s weaving has evolved into playful and experimental forms. She was the first artist to coil-weave pandanus into sculptural bras inspired by pop icon Madonna – specifically the corset by French designer Jean Paul Gaultier that the singer wore on her 1990 world tour. These works, including the celebrated Madonna Bra and Bathi series, merge cultural practice with contemporary commentary. Fashioned from dyed pandanus and string, Rarru’s pieces are humorous, striking and steeped in both tradition and bold reinterpretation.
New acquisition