JANE MARGARET TIPUAMANTUAMIRRI | SYDNEY
Purtaninga Ngima (Rainbow Serpent Feeling)

Jane Margaret Tipuamantumirri is a dynamic Tiwi artist whose vibrant paintings express purtaninga ngima (Rainbow Serpent feeling)—the rhythmic, spiritual presence pulsing through her connection to Tiwi country and ancestral knowledge. Born on the Tiwi Islands, Jane paints between Wurrumiyanga (Bathurst Island) with Ngaruwanajirri Inc. and Pirlangimpi (Melville Island) with Munupi Arts, creating deeply personal interpretations of jilamara (Tiwi design) through dynamic structures and layered dotted infill. Beginning her practice in 1994, Jane transitioned from forceful works on paper to large-scale paintings using natural earth pigments, dancing and singing while she works—embodying the stories of Ampitji (Rainbow Serpent), pamajini (ceremonial armbands), and bush foods through movement and mark-making. Her distinctive style features expressive dotting overlaying thick brushwork, creating visual chants that convey tidal movements, ancestral narratives, and the spiritual geography of the Tiwi Islands. Jane's work is held in major collections, including the National Gallery of Victoria and the Art Gallery of South Australia. Her practice demonstrates profound creative freedom, offering a space where her voice is boldly articulated beyond social constraints, making art a sacred act of presence, autonomy, and cultural connection.