This painting tells the story of Purrukupali and the sacred place Yipali — the beach where he walked into the sea with his son, Jinani. Jinani died while his mother, Bima (Wayayi), was collecting food in the mangroves. She had left him in the shade, but stayed away too long with Tapara, the Moon Man, who had come down from the sky because he loved her. The baby cried for milk, but no one came. When Bima returned, it was too late — Jinani had died in the sun. In grief, Purrukupali refused Tapara’s offer to take the boy for three days to heal him. The brothers fought, and Purrukupali struck Tapara, leaving a scar that can still be seen on the crescent moon. Carrying his son, Purrukupali walked into the ocean at Yipali. Both were swallowed by the sea, never to return. It was the beginning of death for all people. To this day, when the tide goes out at Yipali, you can still see Purrukupali’s footprints in the sand — a lreminder of love, loss, and the beginning of death for all people.

DETAILS

• Natural ochres on Stringybark
• Dimensions: 110cm x 35cm
• Cat No. 25-300

ARTIST

Carol Puruntatameri was born in 1959 on Wurrumiyanga (Bathurst Island).When Carol was 10 years old the family moved to Pirlangimpi, Melville Island,her fathers country.'When old man, my father’s brother Justine Puruntatameri, did painting he brought all us children and grandchildren to the Munupi Art Centre teaching us to carry on. I used to watch my father painting Pukumani poles and during Kuluma ceremony he was painting his body by holding the mirror. Our fathers told all us girls: “Go down and cut sticks from mangroves to use in the ceremony”. The sticks were put in a circle around the middle circle and the men go out and collect the Kulama (bush yam). We were all there, all my family, when our fathers were doing Kuluma ceremony.""I used to stay home gambling but one day I came to the art centre and watched my uncle painting. I didnt know how to paint. I started painting and painting and I I am here today and I know how to paint. I used to copy what my Father did. Some of my paintings have stories.""I think we need to have a museum here at the art centre so we can teach future generations and display clap sticks because they don't have clap sticks here. Also Tokoinga, the ball made out of bee’s wax with the white feathers put in. Only men used to make that and wear it for ceremony and the ladies had arm and head bands. This is a family treasure.”Carol has been a painter at Munupi Arts since 2010 and in 2024 she was selected as a finalist for the Telstra NATSIAA. ~ Munupi Arts

ART CENTRE

Munupi Arts & Crafts Association is located along Melville Islands north-western coastline at Pirlangimpi (Garden Point) and is the most recently formed art centre on the Tiwi Islands. In 1990 the Yikikini Women’s Centre and Pirlangimpi Pottery were incorporated under the name Munupi Arts and Crafts Association giving local artists an opportunity to proudly celebrate Tiwi culture through both traditional and contemporary mediums. Eddie Puruntatameri was the first president of Munupi Arts and Crafts. Eddie worked at Tiwi Pottery at Nguiu for many years until he moved to Pirlangimpi in late 1983 and set up a pottery workshop in the community. The first major works at Munupi were several large mural panels. The painted panels were placed around the community at Pirlangimpi Airport, the Council Office, Pirlangimpi Pottery and at the Women’s Centre. Artists who contributed to this project were Thelca Puruntatameri, Reppie Orsto, Fatima Kantilla, Donna Burak, Francesca Puruntatameri and Therese Ann Tipiloura. The first Munupi Arts and Crafts exhibition ‘Munupi Dreaming’ was held in October 1990 at Shades of Ochre, Darwin. The exhibition included painted furniture, paintings, limited edition prints and terracotta pots. Munupi artists have continued to exhibit both within Australia and internationally. Many artists from Munupi Arts and Craft have participated in workshops at the art centre and abroad. Drawing inspiration from their natural lush environment and Tiwi creation stories, Munupi artists employ ochres, gouache and acrylic paint. Munupi Arts and Crafts are also highly regarded for the diversity of their range of works including painting, pottery, carving, weaving, screen prints, etchings, linocut prints, lithographs and screen printed textiles.

This painting is about Purrukupali and the place Yipali, the beach where he walked with his dead son Jinani. Jinani had died when Purrukupali's wife Wayayi (Bima) and their son Jinani went out searching for food in the mangroves. While Bima was looking for mussels and things Purrukapli's brother Moonman (Tapara) came down to earth to be with Bima as he was in love with her. She left Jinani in the shade but she stayed away too long and he died in the sun. She did not hear her sun crying for milk and returned to her son too late for Janani had died. As Purrukupali and Jinani cried for their son Tapara came down and asked them if he could take Jinani for three days and heal him. A fight began between Purrukuparli and Moonman. Purrukuparli won! Tapara got injured on his leg. Three days later the moon came out. It was a new, cresent moon. From the earth, Moonman’s scars on his leg could be seen. Purrukuparli carried Janani into the ocean at Yipali. They were never to be seen again. Gone forever. Bima cried and cried. He walked onto the beach at Yipali and walked withJinani into the ocean until they both drowned in a whirlpool. When the tide goes out at Yipali you can still see Purrukupali's footprints on the sand

DETAILS

• Natural ochres on Stringybark
• Dimensions: 97cm x 38cm
• Cat No. 25-178

ARTIST

Carol Puruntatameri was born in 1959 on Wurrumiyanga (Bathurst Island).When Carol was 10 years old the family moved to Pirlangimpi, Melville Island,her fathers country.'When old man, my father’s brother Justine Puruntatameri, did painting he brought all us children and grandchildren to the Munupi Art Centre teaching us to carry on. I used to watch my father painting Pukumani poles and during Kuluma ceremony he was painting his body by holding the mirror. Our fathers told all us girls: “Go down and cut sticks from mangroves to use in the ceremony”. The sticks were put in a circle around the middle circle and the men go out and collect the Kulama (bush yam). We were all there, all my family, when our fathers were doing Kuluma ceremony.""I used to stay home gambling but one day I came to the art centre and watched my uncle painting. I didnt know how to paint. I started painting and painting and I I am here today and I know how to paint. I used to copy what my Father did. Some of my paintings have stories.""I think we need to have a museum here at the art centre so we can teach future generations and display clap sticks because they don't have clap sticks here. Also Tokoinga, the ball made out of bee’s wax with the white feathers put in. Only men used to make that and wear it for ceremony and the ladies had arm and head bands. This is a family treasure.”Carol has been a painter at Munupi Arts since 2010 and in 2024 she was selected as a finalist for the Telstra NATSIAA. ~ Munupi Arts

ART CENTRE

Munupi Arts & Crafts Association is located along Melville Islands north-western coastline at Pirlangimpi (Garden Point) and is the most recently formed art centre on the Tiwi Islands. In 1990 the Yikikini Women’s Centre and Pirlangimpi Pottery were incorporated under the name Munupi Arts and Crafts Association giving local artists an opportunity to proudly celebrate Tiwi culture through both traditional and contemporary mediums. Eddie Puruntatameri was the first president of Munupi Arts and Crafts. Eddie worked at Tiwi Pottery at Nguiu for many years until he moved to Pirlangimpi in late 1983 and set up a pottery workshop in the community. The first major works at Munupi were several large mural panels. The painted panels were placed around the community at Pirlangimpi Airport, the Council Office, Pirlangimpi Pottery and at the Women’s Centre. Artists who contributed to this project were Thelca Puruntatameri, Reppie Orsto, Fatima Kantilla, Donna Burak, Francesca Puruntatameri and Therese Ann Tipiloura. The first Munupi Arts and Crafts exhibition ‘Munupi Dreaming’ was held in October 1990 at Shades of Ochre, Darwin. The exhibition included painted furniture, paintings, limited edition prints and terracotta pots. Munupi artists have continued to exhibit both within Australia and internationally. Many artists from Munupi Arts and Craft have participated in workshops at the art centre and abroad. Drawing inspiration from their natural lush environment and Tiwi creation stories, Munupi artists employ ochres, gouache and acrylic paint. Munupi Arts and Crafts are also highly regarded for the diversity of their range of works including painting, pottery, carving, weaving, screen prints, etchings, linocut prints, lithographs and screen printed textiles.