Munupi Arts and Crafts Association

Munupi Arts and Craft Association is located at Pirlangimpi on the north-west coast of Melville Island. In 1990, the Yikikini Women’s Centre and Pirlangimpi Pottery were incorporated under the name Munupi Arts and Crafts Association, providing local artists with an opportunity to 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 (now Wurrumiyanga) for many years until he moved to Pirlangimpi in late 1983 and established a pottery workshop in the community.

Munupi’s first major works was a series of large painted murals, which were placed around the community at Pirlangimpi Airport, the Council Office, Pirlangimpi Pottery and at the Women’s Centre. The first Munupi Arts and Crafts exhibition ‘Munupi Dreaming’ was held in 1990 in Darwin and included painted furniture, paintings, limited edition prints and terracotta pots. Drawing inspiration from their natural lush environment and Tiwi creation stories, Munupi artists employ ochres, gouache and acrylic paint. They are also highly regarded for their diverse range of works including painting, pottery, carving, weaving, screen prints, etchings, linocut prints, lithographs and screen-printed textiles. Artists continue to exhibit both within Munupi Arts, numerous galleries in Australia and internationally with recent shows in Athens, Paris, Singapore and the United States.  Some of the best-known artists from Munupi includes Cornelia Tipuamantumirri and her daughter Delores, Susan Wanji Wanji, Reppie Orsto, Nina Puruntatameri, Martin Tipungwuti, Debbie Coombes, Alison Puruntatameri and Thecla Puruntatameri.

A range of products, including crockery, tea towels, magnets and stationery featuring artwork by Munupi artists, is available through Alperstein Designs.