Artist: Cornelia Tipuamantumirri | Title: Jilamara Design | Year: 2015 | Medium: Natural Earth Pigments on Belgian Linen | Dimensions: 86 x 55 cm
PROVENANCE
Munupi Arts & Crafts Association Cat No. 15-158
ARTWORK STORY
During ceremony on the Tiwi Islands a series of 'yoi' (dances) are performed; some are totemic (inherited from the person's Mother) and some serve to act out the narrative of newly composed songs. Participants in these ceremonies are painted with turtiyanginari (the different natural ochre colours) in varying designs, transforming the dancers and, in some cases, providing protection against recognition by mapurtiti (spirits). These designs can be applied in different ways. Ochre is applied to the body and face. These significant artistic designs collectively are called 'Jilamara'.
Artist Profile
COMMUNITY/REGION
Tiwi Islands, NT
LANGUAGE
Tiwi
BIOGRAPHY
Cornelia Tipuamantumirri, born around 1929–1930 near the present-day barge landing at Pirlangimpi (Garden Point) on Melville Island, was a respected Tiwi elder affiliated with the Munupi Arts & Crafts Association. Her father’s ancestral country is Imalu Point and her mother’s is Munupi, both on Melville Island. She belonged to the Warntarringa (Sun) skin group, and her Dreaming was Jarrikalani (Turtle).
In her youth, Cornelia guided young Tiwi women in weaving and taught traditional Tiwi dance. She married Steven Tipuamantamirri and raised one daughter, Dolores Tipuamantamirri, as well as a young boy from Peppimenarti, Harry Wilson, who had been part of the Stolen Generation and later married artist Regina Wilson.
Cornelia’s art practice involved using a kayimwagakimi, a comb-shaped ironwood tool, dipped in ochre paints—often pinks and yellows—to portray the reflective lights of the sky and the Arafura Sea.
© Adrian Newstead
REFERENCES
Munupi Arts & Crafts Association. (n.d.). Cornelia Tipuamantumirri.
PROVENANCE
Munupi Arts & Crafts Association Cat No. 15-158
ARTWORK STORY
During ceremony on the Tiwi Islands a series of 'yoi' (dances) are performed; some are totemic (inherited from the person's Mother) and some serve to act out the narrative of newly composed songs. Participants in these ceremonies are painted with turtiyanginari (the different natural ochre colours) in varying designs, transforming the dancers and, in some cases, providing protection against recognition by mapurtiti (spirits). These designs can be applied in different ways. Ochre is applied to the body and face. These significant artistic designs collectively are called 'Jilamara'.
Artist Profile
COMMUNITY/REGION
Tiwi Islands, NT
LANGUAGE
Tiwi
BIOGRAPHY
Cornelia Tipuamantumirri, born around 1929–1930 near the present-day barge landing at Pirlangimpi (Garden Point) on Melville Island, was a respected Tiwi elder affiliated with the Munupi Arts & Crafts Association. Her father’s ancestral country is Imalu Point and her mother’s is Munupi, both on Melville Island. She belonged to the Warntarringa (Sun) skin group, and her Dreaming was Jarrikalani (Turtle).
In her youth, Cornelia guided young Tiwi women in weaving and taught traditional Tiwi dance. She married Steven Tipuamantamirri and raised one daughter, Dolores Tipuamantamirri, as well as a young boy from Peppimenarti, Harry Wilson, who had been part of the Stolen Generation and later married artist Regina Wilson.
Cornelia’s art practice involved using a kayimwagakimi, a comb-shaped ironwood tool, dipped in ochre paints—often pinks and yellows—to portray the reflective lights of the sky and the Arafura Sea.
© Adrian Newstead
REFERENCES
Munupi Arts & Crafts Association. (n.d.). Cornelia Tipuamantumirri.
