Parlingarri Amintiya Ningani Awungarra: UNSW Galleries

Johnathon World Peace Bush

24 May - 10 Aug 2025

Old and new. Here and now. This survey of contemporary art from the Tiwi Islands celebrates artists from Jilamara Arts & Crafts in the community of Milikapiti. It points to the long-standing expression of cultural knowledge and innovation emanating from this important art centre since its establishment in 1989.

Presented across both levels of UNSW Galleries, the exhibition showcases the breadth of work created at Jilamara Arts—from ironwood carvings to ochre paintings on stringybark, paper, and canvas, as well as printmaking and video installation. Together, these works reveal the unique visual, performative, and material culture of the Tiwi people, centred around ceremonial body painting designs, clan totems, and creation stories.

All Tiwi people are connected by a rich cosmology and complex system of inheritance, receiving their yiminga (skin group or totem) from their mother and their yoyi (dance) and murrakupuni (Country) from their father. These connections are expressed through song, dance, body painting and their designs known as jilamara, which are central to the kulama (coming of age) and pukumani (mourning) ceremonies. In these events, bodies are painted to camouflage the living from spirits, and tutini (poles) and tunga (baskets) are decorated using locally sourced ochres.

Today, markings on the body are also painted on other surfaces, creating new and distinctive expressions. Emerging language and culture expert Colin Heenan-Puruntatameri explains, “From body it moved onto bark and then canvas, silk, printing, and now we are moving into digital. Culture is evolving with time. We adapt, we evolve, we change, we create as we write into the future.”

‘Parlingarri Amintiya Ningani Awungarra’ features newly commissioned and recent works by Walter Brooks, Kaye Brown, Johnathon World Peace Bush, Timothy Cook, Raelene Kerinauia Lampuwatu, Michelle Pulatuwayu Woody Minnapinni, Arthurina Moreen, Janice Murray Pungautiji, Matthew Freddy Puruntatameri, Patrick Freddy Puruntatameri, Conrad Kamilowra Tipungwuti, Columbiere Tipungwuti, Mickey Fogarty Wilson, Dino Wilson and Pedro Wonaeamirri.

The exhibition also pays tribute to the late senior women of Jilamara Arts, whose innovation and adaptations of jilamara were instrumental in raising awareness of Tiwi art—Kutuwulumi Purawarrumpatu (Kitty Kantilla), Maryanne Mungatopi, Mary Magdalene Tipungwuti and Taracarijimo Freda Warlapinni—including works from the community-owned Muluwurri Museum.

Curated by José Da Silva with Jilamara Arts & Crafts

UNSW Galleries
Cnr of Oxford St and Greens Rd, Paddington, NSW