PUPUNI MANTIMINGA (Fine Lines)

In partnership with Munupi Arts 

Significant paintings in ochre by seven women artists of Munupi Arts, Pirlangimpi (Garden Point) Melville Island, NT.

 FINE LINES OF MUNUPI ARTISTS 

 Exhibited and acquired by major public galleries and selected as finalists in leading award exhibitions, the recent work of the seven artists in this exhibition, has been highly acclaimed for both its extraordinary finesse and clarity of design. 

 The work of thirty-nine-year-old Alison Puruntatameri, granddaughter of the famous late cultural leader Justin Puruntatameri, dazzles with mesmeric fine lines. The 2.4 metre work shown here was a finalist in the 2023 Ramsay Prize at the Art Gallery of South Australia. In softly hued ochres Alison depicts her most favoured theme - Winga, the powerful tidal movements of waters in and around the Tiwi Islands - the ripple of waves and the king tides at full moon in the wet season which transform the coastline in elemental surges.  The crossed and interwoven lines of Christine Puruntatameri's Pwonga, pay homage to the creation Spider Woman ancestor and the fine spider webs which indicate that water is near.  Leading mid-generation artist Delores Tipuamantumirri - only daughter of the famous late artist Cornelia Tipuamantumirri 's work has become highly acclaimed and sought after in recent years. Using the fine traditional Tiwi comb called pwoja, she creates lyrically layered, detailed and intricate works of great beauty based on the finely weaves of fish nets. 

 Young generation artist Karina Coombes, a granddaughter of Justin Puruntatameri, has taken a departure here from her well-known images of the night sky with a delightfully different work that pays tribute to the intertwined natural fibre floor mats made by the Tiwi. In her evocative work Kumwirrupuni, youngest artist in the group, Rebekah Yunipingu, depicts the smoke of the ceremonies that send the spirits of those recently passed back to their ancestral homes. 

 Forty-four-year-old artist, Simplicia Tipungwuti started painting with Munupi Arts in 2019, and has since developed a fine style in works of unique clarity. Her encyclopaedic works relate the travels and events of the famous Tiwi creation ancestral woman - believed to have created the Islands themselves, the seas that surround them and all the sea creatures and other animals.  Senior artist Thecla Bernadette Puruntatameri has been making art since the early 1990s including participating in cultural exchanges with artists in Tasmania and Victoria and print making workshops in Canberra. Her works are in numerous private collections and the Art Gallery of South Australia. A teacher for several decades, since her retirement from teaching in 2017, Thecla has returned to painting - her works depicting many different creation stories. These include Yikwani (Fire) - the all-important tool for cooking, warmth, and regenerating Country.                                                                                                                

OPENING EVENT Saturday, September 23 |  2.30-4pm 

With Tiwi artists Alison Puruntatameri and Karina Coombes and Welcome to Country by Bunurong elder Mark Brown
RSVP: gallery@everywhenart.com.au

EXHIBITING ARTISTS: Alison Puruntatameri, Christine Puruntatameri, Delores Tipuamantumirri, Karina Coombes, Rebekah Yunupingu, Simplicia Tipungwiti, Thecla Bernadette Puruntatameri. 

EXHIBITION DATES: September 22 - October 10