A RARE, INTUITIVE TALENT FOR PAINTING.
For millennia without written language hence more reliant on visual communication, Australian Aboriginals own a powerful, deeply spiritual gift that when translated from rocks and caves to canvases, has resulted in a contemporary art movement of international significance and acclaim.
Artists’ Works
CREATED OFTEN WHILE SINGING A SACRED SONG.
These artworks are like nothing you’ve ever seen and at first can appear somewhat abstract and naïve and to a degree they are; but in fact they are physical aerial landscapes and metaphysical maps, stories of the Jukurrpa, the Dreaming.
They attain an innate balance, rhythm, movement and composition pulled together with interacting symbols, dots, lines and colours. There’s a wide range of styles and prices, but as with most art, what sells a painting is that strong connection, the wow factor; the look of it on your wall.
Styles & Regions
THE ANCIENT STORIES ARE ONCE AGAIN ALIVE.
Aboriginal Australians expressed their strong custodial ties with the land in rock drawings and body paintings. Art was and remains a significant and secret part of their rituals and ceremonies. The Jukurrpa is a complex, holistic belief system and way of life embracing everything spiritual, moral, social, zoological, astronomical and sacred with the land.
The younger generation is reconnecting and the oldest continuous culture on the planet survives helped by sharing its stories and selling its art.
Storytelling
JOSEPHINE BURAK
MUNUPI
Josephine is the daughter of respected custodian of traditional medical knowledge, Lydia Burak. She prepares her own pwoja (comb, painting tool) with her subject often significant Kulama Ceremony.
DEBBIA NAPALJARRI BROWN
WARLUKURLANGU
Debbie’s grandmother, Margaret Napangardi Brown, taught her to paint. Her grandfather is the renowned Pintupi artist Pegleg Tjampitjinpa who was born c.1920 and grew up in the vicinity of Wilkinkarra, living a traditional life. Debbie would watch her grandmother and grandfather paint and listen to her Grandmother’s Jukurrpa stories which she now paints.
NINA (LUDWINA) PURUNTATAMERI
MUNUPI
In 1993 Nina won the New Medium award at the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards in Darwin. She is represented in many Australian and International private and public collections.
VALERIE NAPANGARDI MARSHALL
WARLUKURLANGU
To depict her traditional Jukurrpa, Valerie uses traditional iconography, while developing a modern individualistic style. When Valerie is not working locally or painting she enjoys hunting with her family.
AGNES NAMPIJINPA FRY
WARLUKURLANGU
Agnes has been painting with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation since 2006. She paints her father’s Jukurrpa stories, Dreamings that relate directly to her land, its features and animals. These stories were passed down to her by her father and her grandfather and their fathers for millennia. When Agnes is not painting she likes to go hunting for bush tucker, particularly Bush Currants.
FRANCESCA PURUNTATAMERI
MUNUPI
From 2009-2013 Francesca served as President of Munupi Art. She studied in Arts and Crafts with Batchelor College, specialising in decorated canvas paintings and gouaches on paper.
SABRINA NAPANGARDI GRANITES
WARLUKURLANGU
Sabrina is the grand-daughter of Paddy Japaljarri Sims (Dec.) and Bessie Nakamarra Sims, two of the founding artists of Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation. She paints the Dreaming stories passed to her from both including Mina Mina Jukurrpa (Mina Mina Dreaming); Karntakurlangu Jukurrpa (Women’s Dreaming); and Ngalyipi Jukurrpa (Snake Vine Dreaming).
PAULINA PURUNTATAMERI
MUNUPI
Paulina is the chairperson of the Munupi Arts and Crafts Centre. She is committed to preserving culture, language, art and songs.
ALFREDA NUNGARRAYI MARTIN
WARLUKURLANGU
Alfreda comes from a well-established family of artists: her mother is Helen Nampijinpa Robertson, her grandfather is Shorty Jangala Robertson, and her step-father is Paddy Japaljarri Stewart — all well-known artists both in Australia and overseas. Alfreda likes to paint her father’s dreaming, Yurrampi Jukurrpa (Honey Ant Dreaming) and her grandfather’s dreaming, Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming).
SUSAN WANJI WANJI
MUNUPI
2013 Telstra Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award finalist, Susan is an exceptional weaver and Tunga (bark basket) craftsperson who has developed a unique style influenced by Tiwi and Arnhem Land cultures.
EMILY NAMPIJINPA HUDSON
WARLUKURLANGU
Emily has been painting with the Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation since 2001. When she was young she used to watch her elder sister paint. She paints her grandfather’s Jukurrpa stories, Yarungkanyi Jukurrpa (Mt Doreen Dreaming) and her father’s dreaming, Warlukurlangu Jukurrpa (Fire Dreaming)
ALISON PURUNTATAMERI
MUNUPI
Alison grew up in Pirlangimpi Community on Melville Island. Her grandfather, Justin Puruntatameri (dec), is a senior law man.
ATHENA NANGALA GRANITES
WARLUKURLANGU
Athena learnt to paint by watching her mother, sisters and grandmother. Athena uses an unrestricted palette to develop a modern interpretation of her traditional culture.
ELSIE NAPANANGKA GRANITES
WARLUKURLANGU
Elsie paints various Dreaming stories but the one she has consistently painted since 2007 is her father’s dreaming, Jayinki Jukurrpa. Although this Jukurrpa is often associated with men’s ceremonial activity in that country it is also related to sites where women travelled to collect bush foods. Janyinki is Elsie’s traditional country. Her work has been included in numerous exhibitions of Aboriginal Art.
LESTON JAPALJARRI SPENCER
WARLUKURLANGU
Leston is a respected emerging artist with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation who paints his parents’ Jukurrpa.
PATRICK JAPANGARDI WILLIAMS
WARLUKURLANGU
Patrick has established himself with a reputation at Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation as an artist with incredible natural talent and broad appeal.
KARINA COOMBES
MUNUPI
Under the direction of her grandfather, Justin Puruntatameri and Florence (Justin’s eldest daughter), Karina learned what she could correctly portray as defined by her Tiwi family ties. She has since progressed from depicting Jarrikalani and Takaringa, to portraying the various incarnations of the night sky as it appears over the Tiwi Islands.
WALTER JANGALA BROWN
WARLUKURLANGU
Walter is an emerging artist with great ambitions of establishing a local and international reputation. His distinctive style is striking a chord amongst art-lovers and he is well on his way to achieving his goal.
