Tiwi Islands and Top End

Located at Pirlangimpi (Garden Point) on the north-western coastline of Melville Island, Munupi Arts and Crafts has been providing local Artists the opportunity to proudly celebrate Tiwi culture through both traditional and contemporary mediums for the past 25 years.

Drawing inspiration from their natural lush environment and Tiwi creation stories, many of the Munupi artists’ paint on linen with natural ochres applied by the traditional pwoja, an instrument – typically carved from ironwood with tooth like ends resembling a comb – used to apply ceremonial designs with ochre on to the body.  The pwoja is dipped in to the ochre and applied in rhythmic movements on to the linen.