Yikurri tokwampini (Four birds), 2024

$600.00

  • 38cm x 57cm
  • 2024
  • Natural Ochres on Saunders Waterford paper
  • Catalog No: 3778147-593-24

Alfonso Puautjimi

Born: 1969
Language: Tiwi
Dance: Tayamini (Dingo)
Skin Group: Warnarringa (Sun)

Alfonso is a Tiwi man who has been painting with the Ngaruwanajirri Inc. group in Wurrumiyanga on Bathurst Island since 1997. His subject matter is drawn from the local environment: Tutini (pukumani poles), carved heads, figures and birds as still life groupings, local landscapes including trees, bicycles, boats, planes and cars and jilamara (Tiwi designs).

Alfonso works in natural ochres on paper and canvas, batik on silk, lino block design and watercolour. He uses bold brush strokes, generous paint application and applies black lines over broad areas of colour, finishing with a second layer of colour. This layered approach gives his paintings a strong textural effect.

Alfonso has been a continuous presence at the Ngaruwanajirri Art Centre for over two decades and has exhibited extensively since 2002 including solo exhibitions in NSW and Victoria. Carved Tutini from several other Ngaruwanajirri artists are sometimes commissioned to accompany painting shows.

Alfonso’s work is held in public and private collections including the Charles Darwin University Art Collection, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, Art Gallery of South Australia, Newcastle University Art Collection NSW and the Lam Collection, University of San Antonio, USA.

In 2024 Alfonso was a finalist in the Telstra National Indigenous Art Awards, Works on Paper section.

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