Conrad TIPUNGWUTI

born 1966, Melville Island
lives and works Melville Island
Skin name: Arrinkuwunila
Language group: Tiwi
Dreaming: Dance – Tarranigi (Buffalo)

On Australia’s Tiwi Islands the art of body painting for ceremonial culture has been practiced for thousands of years and the traditional forms of mark-making were derived from the creation story.  All Jilamara, (traditional Tiwi design), is originally drawn from the body painting which accompanied the Pukumani (funeral) and Kulama (initiation/yam) ceremonies.

Conrad Tipungwuti paints in a very free, loose and gestural style that is particularly reminiscent of several elder Tiwi artists who have been his mentors. These artists include Mary Magdalene, Tim Cook (who where both acquired for the Murdoch University Art Collection in 2007 and 2008 respectively) and the late Kitty Kantilla.
 
Tipungwuti’s use of bold circular shapes and dots, as well as his ability to generate movement through the thick application of natural ochres, produces striking free-flowing and energetic paintings for which he is now recognised.  
 
Tipungwuti’s works are emotionally charged and although they appear to be free flowing, the structural composition of these paintings is not created by chance. He has a very well developed understanding of structure and formality in the placement of lines, dots and shapes within his painting. Kulama is a perfect balance of these qualities.

Other selected artwork acquisitions