Minga, 2000 by Jean Baptiste Apuatimi 115x43cm, Cat 10440JB

Minga, 2000 by Jean Baptiste Apuatimi

'This is olden days painting ( Parlini Jilamar a). Long time ago in the early days we put Yalinga - red, Arrikininga - yellow and Tutyangini - white ochre on our face and body for Pukamani and Kulama ceremonies. We call this Minga. Sometimes we still do this. My husband taught me this style. He used to tell me story about that painting.'

The source of the artist’s vigorous carving style, figurative iconography, spontaneously painted designs of pwanga amintiya marlipinyini (dots and lines) and bright ochre palette undoubtedly lies in Declan’s inspirational oeuvre, much of which was produced collaboratively with her, if largely unacknowledged. But once she focused on painting in her own name, Jean Baptiste immersed herself in making art and gradually forged a radical individual style…

“ recognisable for its gestural verve, audacious jilamara and oscillation between figuration and conceptual abstraction. The potency of her innovative aesthetic derives from both its compositional expansiveness and close connection with customary ritual. ” Source: National Gallery of Australia (NGA)

Provenance: Tiwi Designs Catalogue 376-2000