Mirripakama (Rough Sea): Alison Puruntatameri
Current exhibition
Alison Puruntatameri, a prominent artist from the Tiwi Islands, has garnered acclaim for her evocative paintings which masterfully employs ochre to capture the majestic beauty of her cultural landscape. Alison's award-winning work embodies the dynamic interplay of tidal forces and ancestral narratives inherent to her culture. Through her deft use of rich ochre tones, Puruntatameri not only pays homage to traditional artistic practices but also infuses contemporary themes of resilience and connection with nature. Her brushstrokes resonate with the rhythms of the land and sea, offering viewers a profound insight into the intricate relationship between identity and environment.
Alison Puruntatameri creates her artworks using natural ochres, carefully mixed and applied with a pwoja—the traditional Tiwi comb-like painting tool. Her series of paintings, titled ‘Winga’ (sea/saltwater), explores the rhythmic movement of tides around the seas and creeks of the Tiwi Islands. These works capture the dynamic flow of water, which not only dictates the patterns of fishing and hunting but also shapes the land, constantly altering the coastal topography. The tidal surges are especially powerful during the king tides of the wet season. Puruntatameri’s deep connection to these waters is a reflection of a lifetime spent surrounded by the Arafura Sea, where the tides are ever-present in both her art and her life.
Alison has been a finalist in several prestigious art awards, including the Primavera Art Award; Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards; The Alice Prize; and the Ramsay Art Awards. Short St Gallery is honoured to present her latest body of work in, Mirripakama - Rough Sea, and we invite you to view the exhibition via our gallery or online.
Alison Puruntatameri creates her artworks using natural ochres, carefully mixed and applied with a pwoja—the traditional Tiwi comb-like painting tool. Her series of paintings, titled ‘Winga’ (sea/saltwater), explores the rhythmic movement of tides around the seas and creeks of the Tiwi Islands. These works capture the dynamic flow of water, which not only dictates the patterns of fishing and hunting but also shapes the land, constantly altering the coastal topography. The tidal surges are especially powerful during the king tides of the wet season. Puruntatameri’s deep connection to these waters is a reflection of a lifetime spent surrounded by the Arafura Sea, where the tides are ever-present in both her art and her life.
Alison has been a finalist in several prestigious art awards, including the Primavera Art Award; Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards; The Alice Prize; and the Ramsay Art Awards. Short St Gallery is honoured to present her latest body of work in, Mirripakama - Rough Sea, and we invite you to view the exhibition via our gallery or online.