Yoi

About

Yoi is an exhibition of works from the Munupi Arts & Crafts Association located along Melville Island’s north-western coastline, north of Darwin. It will feature paintings by nine Munupi artists.

Dancing, or ‘yoi’, plays a significant role in life on the Tiwi Islands. Narrative dances – a key feature of ritual activity – depict both everyday life and historically significant events. The natural ochres participants use to paint their bodies also adorns the canvases on display in Yoi. Often applied with a Pwoja Comb, the paintings possess a unique textural materiality, inherently abstract in form and thus free from a mimetic representation of reality.

Viewers are invited to delve deeper into the mark-making techniques of Tiwi Art, to explore the gestural energy and spirituality expressed in the paintings that make up Yoi.

Click here to watch an excerpt of Naina Sen’s Yoi, 2024 film which accompanies the artworks in the exhibition, contextualising the creative practices and processes of the artists, and the ceremonial and cultural origins of their work. 

Exhibiting artists:

Alison Puruntatameri, Arthur John Cowell, Carol Puruntatameri, Christine Puruntatameri, Delores Tipuamantumirri, Dorothy Noni Poantimului, Josephine Burak, Lucinda Puruntatameri, Simplicia Tipungwuti.

This exhibition is presented by JGM Gallery. We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to the land, waters and skies, often expressed through art. We pay our respects to artists, elders and community members past, present and future.