‘My name is Jimmy Mungatopi. I work at Jilamara Arts in Milikapti on Melville Island. I’ve been coming to this art centre all my life. The old people said “join in – we want to pass this place on to you young people”. I was trying to figure out what to do with my life – how do I want to move on – I decided I would come to Jilamara to build a life for myself and my kids.’
Jimmy is known for his figurative paintings of the Tiwi creation story, similar to that of his Aunty Maryanne Mungatopi from his father’s side who he watched and learned from. He also paints his own distinct style of Jilamara with expansive areas of plain painterly ochre which depict the Tiwi landscape and environment.
He also watched and learned from his grandfather on his mother’s side Murrunungumirri (old Paddy Freddy).
Jimmy is an artsworker at Jilamara and an alumni of the ANKA 2014 Arts Worker Extension Program. He is recognised for his traditional dancing and singing.
