Tiwi layout v2 ch 16 Munupi.pdf

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Increasingly Tiwi sculptors are innovating. A tutini
with a sculptural forked apex surmounted by a rounded
moon shape is sometimes replaced with an effigy of
an AFL footballer whose arms mark the ovoid ball
above. In 2010 an exhibition at the Australian Museum
showed a variety of such ‘Footy Man’ figures from Tiwi
sculptors across the art centres.
Tourism has increased on the Islands and Munupi
receives day trips by plane from Darwin and occasional
cruise boats, which assist in the retail turnover of the
craft shop and allow the artists to interact with visitors
responding to their work. Approximately forty-five artists
are members of Munupi, although far fewer work at the
centre on a daily basis. The island community enjoys
interacting with tourists and particular families are
nominated to work professionally as guides and hosts:
We have many visitors to the island. They come to
experience the Tiwi way of life, the interaction between
the visitors and the Tiwi people is of great benefit to
both. The artists take the visitor out to their country
to teach them bush tucker including collecting mud
mussels and oysters, they then show them how to cook
them in the coals and they all eat them. Ceremony is
also demonstrated and the body designs which they
paint onto the body for ceremony they see they also
use when they paint on their art works. A great deal of
knowledge is transferred through such visits. 4
Munupi Arts and Crafts’ visual distinctiveness
remains evident, as the original key artists still paint
in the centre. Several have an almost 30-year history
of painting and print-making, among them Maree
Puruntatameri, Donna Burak, Fiona Puruntatameri,
Francesca Puruntatameri and Susan Wanji Wanji.
Formerly prolific artists Thecla Puruntatameri
and Sheila Puruntatameri have now moved on to
community work. Maree Puruntatameri and fourteen
other members of the Puruntatameri family were
honoured in 2010 in Arampini: Artists from the Tiwi
Islands, a significant exhibition of paintings, prints
and pottery at the National Art School Gallery in
Sydney. This exhibition explored the creative context
of making art in the contemporary situation of family
and community.
In 2011, two important elders of Pirlangimpi
joined the artists at Munupi—Justin Puruntatameri
and Cornelia Tipuamantumeri. Both over eighty years
of age, their sure hands and dedication to Tiwi cultural
expression are shown in their classic abstract paintings
of great subtlety, using fine sweeps of dots applied
with the pwoja. These lace-like patterns were once
worn by Justin himself at ceremony, his chest and face
scored with streams of delicate spotted lines of white
clay. Cornelia’s art background was mainly in making
tungas and weaving pandanus; however, in advanced
age she now expressing visually the purest feelings of
what it mans to be a Tiwi woman, with delicate ochre
mark-making like windswept foam. The presence of
these inspiring leders has aroused new interest in old
Tiwi culture and language, and in the history they can
explain to the younger centre members.
The two most experienced senior artists at the
Centre are Susan Wanji Wanji and Nina Puruntatameri.
Both are solo exhibiting artists with a solid reputation
in southern cities and are held in major collections.
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m u n u pi artists
declan apuatimi (b 1980)
country: munupi, melville island (f),
punjulow, bathurst island (m)
skin group: japijapini (march fly)
dance: trick dance
Declan Apuatimi is named after his famous
artist father Declan Apuatimi (1930–85).
Although his father died when Declan was
just five years old, he follows the family
tradition and is a carver and painter in
his father’s style. Declan started carving at
Munupi Arts and Crafts in 2004 after moving
from Bathurst Island where his mother Jean
Baptiste Apuatimi paints at Tiwi Design.
In 2006 Declan began painting with ochre
on canvas—his paintings are based on the
designs he uses on his carvings. Declan also
works with prints, and produces pottery.
He began learning pottery techniques by
observing Robert Puruntatameri and Regis
Pangiraminni at work in the Pirlangimpi
pottery studio. In 2006 Declan was selected
by Robert Puruntatameri to accompany
himself and John Patrick Kelantamama on a
residential visit to Whiteman Creek Pottery,
in northern New South Wales, where the
three Tiwi potters worked with master potter
Geoff Crispin producing new works of woodfired
porcelain. Since he first joined Munupi
Arts and Crafts Association Declan has
been an Executive Committee member and
represents Munupi on the Tiwi Art Network
Committee.
donna (regina) burak
(b 1972)
country: mungaruwu, melville island (f),
imalu, melville island (m)
skin group: japijapini (march fly)
dance: yirrikipayi (crocodile)
Donna Burak started etching in Canberra
with Maria Josette Orsto in 1989. She
participated in the first Munupi Arts
and Crafts Centre exhibition, Munupi
Dreaming: Shades of Ochre, Darwin, in 1990
and has since exhibited work in national
and international exhibitions. Born in
Snake Bay, Donna grew up at Munupi
but completed her schooling at Kormilda
College in Darwin. Her parents are Big Don
Mulaminni and Lydia Burak Tipakalippa.
In 1992 Donna travelled to Paris with Susan
Wanji Wanji to attend the opening of the
Munupi Arts and Crafts Centre/Alliance
Française Exhibition at the Australian
Embassy. In 1994 Donna won the Art of
Place Youth award, awarded
by the Australian Heritage
Commission, Canberra,
through the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Art
Awards. Donna produces
paintings, etchings and linocut
prints and has participated in
several printmaking workshops
in Canberra. Donna is an
important creative member
of Munupi Arts and Crafts
Centre, using her knowledge
and skills to pass on Tiwi
traditions and influence other
artists. A proud member of
her community, Donna has sat
on the Pirlangimpi Council
and the Munupi Arts and
Crafts Association committee.
She was also the Tiwi Region
Executive Director on the
Association of Northern,
Kimberley and Arnhem
swappedthis pic
Aboriginal Artists (ANKAAA) Executive
Committee in 2007 and 2008.
Donna Burak’s work is featured in
several important public and private
collections, including the National Gallery
of Australia, Museum and Art Gallery of
the Northern Territory, Australian Museum,
National Museum of Australia, News
Limited, Flinders University Art Museum,
Art Bank and the Kelton Foundation, Santa
Monica, collections.
i like to keep my old culture
strong. if we don’t have kids we
still pass it on to brother’s kids—
i don’t have kids. it’s good our
brother’s kids have to learn from
their aunties. [Commenting on
family name of Burak] mum
has a tiwi name, tipakalippa, i
think one bloke from England or
scotland gave that name Burak
to my mum’s dad.
dOnna BuraK
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266 PirlangimPi: munuPi arts and Crafts
PirlangimPi: munuPi arts and Crafts 267