Jilamarra designs by Myra Anne Tiploura, 114x52cm 10321MT

Myra Anne Tiploura, born in 1973, is from the Tiwi Islands, paints meticulously crafted Jilamara designs. These designs are deeply rooted in Tiwi culture, drawing inspiration from traditional ceremonial art, including bark paintings and carved Pukumani poles. Jilamara, meaning "design" in Tiwi, refers to the intricate ochre patterns painted on the body during the Pukumani ceremony, a crucial ritual to disguise participants from spirits of the dead. Tiploura’s work exemplifies the precision of dotted paint application, often applied to zigzag patterns with ochre tones, reflecting the rich geometric motifs that are a hallmark of Tiwi art.

Her Jilamara designs are not only an artistic expression but also a preservation of Tiwi cultural heritage, translating ancient ceremonial patterns onto contemporary canvases and monumental tutini (burial poles). The Tiwi Islands' distinct seasons, the dry (smoke), the buildup to the wet (cicadas song), and the wet (tropical storms), influence the cultural narratives and rituals that Tiploura's art represents. Through her work, Tiploura continues the tradition of oral cultural storytelling, reinforcing the importance of Tiwi social structures, matrilineal skin groups, and the enduring connection to the land and its seasons.