Ngaruwanajirri

Ngaruwanajirri Ngaruwanajirri - an Aboriginal art centre for Tiwi artists in Wurrumiyanga on Bathurst Island NT

So wonderful hearing Gordon Pupangamirri and Ken Wayne Kantilla talk about Tiwi art!
17/08/2026

So wonderful hearing Gordon Pupangamirri and Ken Wayne Kantilla talk about Tiwi art!

Our final day Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Drop by to see some wonderful works by Ngaruwanajirri artist and carvers.
09/08/2026

Our final day Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair
Drop by to see some wonderful works by Ngaruwanajirri artist and carvers.

Senior Ngaruwanajirri artist Ken Wayne Kantilla is a finalist in the 2026 Telstra NATSIAA Museum & Art Gallery of the NT...
05/08/2026

Senior Ngaruwanajirri artist Ken Wayne Kantilla is a finalist in the 2026 Telstra NATSIAA Museum & Art Gallery of the NT

Ken Wayne’s beautiful painting is called Mirripakama [Rough seas] and represents the waters in Aspley Strait that separates the Tiwi Islands' communities of Wurrumiyanga and Paru.

When the seas are rough the fishing is no good, the mud crabs are too soft, and there are no yuwuli [mangrove worms].

Visit Museum & Art Gallery of the NT to see Ken's work alongside all the other incredible finalists curated by Shannon Brett

Barry’s beautiful carvings are heading to Darwin TONIGHT!
31/07/2026

Barry’s beautiful carvings are heading to Darwin TONIGHT!

After a frenzied week of cataloguing, wrapping and packing our bus is finally filled up and, fingers crossed, on its way...
30/07/2026

After a frenzied week of cataloguing, wrapping and packing our bus is finally filled up and, fingers crossed, on its way to Darwin for Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair !

A big shout out to the arts workers who stepped in to get Ngaruwanajirri over the line and ready including Gordon Pupangamirri and Raph’ Babui with daughter / tiny driver Pony, as well as Barbara Tipiloura and Romeo Ullungura.

See you next week at DAAF!

PHEW!Ngaruwanajirri is catching its breath after fabulous time at the Tiwi Cultural Festival and Grand final day!We were...
29/07/2026

PHEW!
Ngaruwanajirri is catching its breath after fabulous time at the Tiwi Cultural Festival and Grand final day!

We were so excited to present Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with an Alfonso Puautjimi “Kitaa” t-shirt and senior arts worker Gordon Pupangamirri gave the PM “Jinani” one of Gordon’s beautiful carvings.

We also were super privileged to meet the NT legend Charlie King who was accompanied by NT MLAs Jinson Anto Charls and Khoda Patel MLA

AND (not pictured) a visit from the team Aboriginal Investment NT

Thanks to everyone else who visited over the weekend!

See you soon Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair !

Beautiful tungas on show at Cross Art Projects… go see!
18/07/2026

Beautiful tungas on show at Cross Art Projects… go see!

And that’s a wrap!We had a great time NIAF Big shout out to The Cross Art Projects for hosting Minga Yankuwui. Thanks to...
05/07/2026

And that’s a wrap!

We had a great time NIAF

Big shout out to The Cross Art Projects for hosting Minga Yankuwui.

Thanks to volunteers Charlotte and Lucy and massive shoutouts to artists and arts workers Gordon Pupangamirri and Adam Tipungwuti!

Thanks Sydney! See you next time!

Minga YuwankuiAncient Body MarkingsARTISTS FROM NGARUWANAJIRRI, TIWI ISLANDS�Alfonso (Hardy) Puautjimi Jnr�Gordon Pupang...
30/06/2026

Minga Yuwankui
Ancient Body Markings

ARTISTS FROM NGARUWANAJIRRI, TIWI ISLANDS
�Alfonso (Hardy) Puautjimi Jnr�Gordon Pupangamirri�Marie Yvonne Tipuamantumirri��
Join us for a conversation between the artists and the art centre from 3pm Saturday 4 July

Exhibition runs 4 July to 15 August 2026�At The Cross Art Projects
�Proudly presented by Ngaruwanajirri Inc at Wurrumiyanga, Tiwi Islands

‘Minga are the initiation scars from the old times. Jilamara are the designs we paint on our body and face for ceremony like funerals, kulama, yoyi [dance].’ — Gordon Pupangamirri

Minga Yuwankui are the Tiwi words used to describe the traditional body scarification practices undertaken during initiation ceremonies. Since colonisation, these designs have evolved from permanent scarification to non-permanent ochre body painting and the significant Tiwi design tradition known as jilamara. Today, these designs continue to be painted on our bodies and faces for important ceremonies including funerals, kulama (an ancient and deeply spiritual initiation ceremony), and yoyi (dance). The designs have been passed down through generations, from the minga to the jilamara seen in our contemporary art practices. They continue to find expression through painting, carving, printmaking, and ochre body painting.

For the exhibition Minga Yuwankui, the artists began with tunga (bark baskets) and bark paintings (mintawunga jilamara), using these as the foundation for a series of lino block designs. The lino blocks were then printed onto fabric, from which each artist designed and created a set of garments to be worn alongside their tunga. While techniques and technologies change, jilamara and Tiwi culture retain their power, relevance, and meaning within the contemporary world.

This project extends Ngaruwanajirri’s long lineage of Lino block printing, connecting ancestral knowledge and cultural practices with new forms of artistic expression.

Photo: (L to R) Artists Gordon Pupangamirri, Alfonso (Hardy) Puautjimi Jnr and Marie Yvonne Tipuamantumirri. Courtesy: Ngaruwanajirri Art Centre Bathurst Island.


Address

Lot 836 Timeapatua Circuit
Darwin, NT
0822

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 3pm
Tuesday 9am - 3pm
Wednesday 9am - 3pm
Thursday 9am - 3am
Friday 9am - 12pm

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