RUSSELLINA PURUNTATAMERI
The Tiwi Islands, located in the Timor Sea 80km north of Darwin, are home to the
Tiwi people and consist of two main islands, Melville Island, and Bathurst Island.
The Tiwi people identify three separate seasons – Jamutakari (wet season), Kumunupunari
(dry season) and Tiyari (hot season), these seasons are the key to the Tiwi cycle of life;
My name is Russellina Puruntatameri, I am a proud Tiwi woman from the Tiwi Islands which is 80kms north of Darwin. I am 32 years old, and I was born in Darwin and raised on the Tiwi Islands.
My father is Russell Black (skin group: Takaringini) and my mother is Lydwina Puruntatameri (skin group: Lorrula).
I have two sisters and two brothers, and I am the oldest. I have been living in Melbourne, Victoria with my three girls and partner for 4 years. This is also where I have started painting 3 years ago.
I developed my artistic skills from all of my families back home, where I grew up at Pirlangimpi Garden point, at the Munupi arts centre, by watching and listening to their stories. My Mum is a well-known artist and has been painting since before I was born, she still paints back home. She’s always sending tips and stories that she passes down
to me. Some of the paintings remind me of being back home and also makes me think a lot of my grandfather who passed away in 1996. He was a carver making Pukumani (totem poles) so was my uncle Tracy Puruntatameri.
Shop Russellina Puruntatameri’s collection here.