Kulama Design (Cat 23-341), 2023

The Kulama design depicts this important ceremony of the Tiwi people; the dancers and singers create a circle and prepare the poisonous yam for eating, as indicated by the circles in the painting. The Kulama ceremony was given to the Tiwi people by the Nyingawi, who are little spirit people (as depicted in Tiwi mythology). It is a celebration of life and food, occurring at the end of the wet season. The Tiwi know when to perform Kulama when the last full moon of the wet season has a yellow halo surrounding it, which tells them that Japarra (the moon man) is ready for it to begin.

Jacqueline Puruntatameri was born in Darwin and grew up at Pirlingampi on Melville Island and went to high school at Kormilda College in Darwin. Jacqueline has one child a boy called Gareth who lives in Darwin with his partner. Jacqueline used to work at the Pirlangimpi store for 5 years.

“I have been painting at Munupi Arts for a long time. I have had artworks used for calendars and I have been in many exhibitions. I love painting and I follow my grandfather who was an artist as well. His name was Black Joe. He is famous and was in the Tiwi Show in 2021 at the National Gallery of Victoria”