Carol Puruntatameri & Alison Puruntatameri Melbourne Art Fair 2025 Alison Puruntatameri, Tiwi Islands, b. 1984 Alison paints using natural ochres that she mixes and applies using a pwoja, the traditional Tiwi comb-like painting tool. She took up painting at the suggestion of her grandfather, Justin Puruntatameri (deceased), a senior law man and artist. He knew all the old songs and told stories of visits to the Tiwi Islands by Macassan fishermen from across the sea. She would listen to his stories of his paintings at Munupi Art Centre and on Country. Alison has been a finalist in several prestigious art awards, including the Museum of Contemporary Arts 2014 Primavera Art Award; Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (Telstra NATSIAA) 2022; The Alice Prize 2022; and the Art Gallery of South Australia's 2023 Ramsay Art Awards. Alison’s series of paintings titled ‘Winga’ (sea/saltwater) depict the tidal movement of waters in and around the seas and creeks of the Tiwi Islands. The movement of water influences fishing and hunting opportunities while also transforming the land by changing the coastal topography. Tidal surges are at their most powerful during king tides in the wet season. Puruntatameri has a strong bond to the waters surrounding the Tiwi Islands, forged by a lifetime encircled by the Arafura Sea.

Carol Puruntatameri, Tiwi Islands, b. 1959 Using natural ochres, Carol paints on Canvas and Stringybark with a combination ofpaint brush and a pwoja, the traditional Tiwi comb-like painting tool. “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.” Carol has been a painter at Munupi Arts since 2010 and in 2024 she was selected as a finalist for the 2024 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (Telstra NATSIAA). Carol’s paintings tells the story of Purrukupali and the place Yipali, the beach where Purrukapali walked with his dead son Jinani. Baby Jinani died when Purrukupali's wife Wayayi (Bima) took him 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. Bima left Jinani in the shade to be with Tapara but she stayed away too long and he died in the sun. JInani had not heard her son crying for milk and returned to him too late. As Purrukupali and Jinani cried for their son Tapara came down and asked them if he could take Jinani for three days to bring him back to life. A fight began between Purrukuparli and Tapara. Purrukuparli won! Tapara got injured on his leg. Three days later the moon came out. It was a new, crescent moon. From the earth, Tapara’s scars on his leg could be seen. Purrukapali walked onto the beach at Yipali and carried Jinani into the ocean until they both dissapeared in a whirlpool. Bima cried and cried. They were never to be seen again. Gone forever. When the tide goes out at Yipali you can still see Purrukupali's footprints on the sand.

Alison Puruntatameri Winga, 2024 Ochre on Linen 180 x 120 cm $15,000 24-268 Carol Puruntatameri Yipali and Purrukapali, 2024 Ochre on Canvas 180 x 120 cm $9,000 24-267 alison Puruntatameri Winga, 2024 Ochre on stringybark 199 x 80 cm $18,000 24-272

carol Puruntatameri Yipali and Purrukapali, 2024 Ochre on Canvas 180 x 120 cm $9,000 24-246 alison Puruntatameri Winga, 2024 Ochre on Linen 120 x 80 cm $4,200 24-294 alison Puruntatameri Winga, 2024 Ochre on Linen 150 x 80 cm $8,400 24-182

carol Puruntatameri Yipali and Purrukapali, 2024 Ochre on Canvas 120 x 80 cm $4,200 24-286 carol Puruntatameri Yipali and Purrukapali, 2024 Ochre on Canvas 120 x 80 cm $4,200 24-287 carol Puruntatameri Yipali and Purrukapali, 2024 Ochre on Canvas 120 x 80 cm $4,200 24-275

carol Puruntatameri Yipali and Purrukapali, 2024 Ochre on stringybark 86 x 54 cm $4,500 24-224 carol Puruntatameri Yipali and Purrukapali, 2024 Ochre on Stringybark 87 x 63 cm $5,000 24-222 carol Puruntatameri Yipali and Purrukapali, 2024 Ochre on stringybark 80 x 25 cm $2,000 24-237

Alison Puruntatameri Winga, 2024 Ochre on Linen 180 x 120 cm $15,000 24-119 Alison Puruntatameri Winga, 2024 Ochre on Linen 120 x 80 cm $4,200 24-278 Alison Puruntatameri Winga, 2024 Ochre on Linen 180 x 120 cm $15,000 24-223

Alison Puruntatameri Winga, 2024 Ochre on Linen 150 x 180 cm $18,800 24-159