Untitled | P-508

DOB: 1953

Birthplace: Ngukurr, NT

Language: Wagilak

Skin name: Jirwulurr

Community: Ngukurr, NT



Amy Johnson Jirwulurr is a contemporary artist from Ngukurr, South East Arnhem Land, situated on the banks of the Roper River. Known for her native descriptions of the plant and animal life found in the local land and billabong regions of Ngukurr. Amy’s genius lies in her innocent depictions which are enhanced with her choice of bright color opposites. Her work often combines derivative bark painting and figurative styles like those from her famous husband, Sambo Burra Burra.

Originally an early 1900s Anglican mission, Ngukurr was established by a government agency in 1968, providing a haven for the Roper River peoples fleeing the violence of pastoralists moving up from the south. People of many different clans and language groups congregated there. This history is reflected in the subject matters and diversity of styles of the Ngukurr artists’ paintings.

Generally, the images of totemic animals are understood as representing inherited law from Amy’s husband. Many animals are associated with secret songs involving the search for sacred sites to enact the rituals surrounding circumcision and mortuary ceremonies. This right accompanied by her deep love and appreciation of her homeland coupled with awareness of the intricate cycles of plant and animal life is manifested in her work. These works reflect innocence and happiness as well as bright colours, which have become one of Jiwulurr’s trademarks.

In 1987 under the guidance of the Northern Territory open College of TAFE, the people at Ngukurr on the Roper River had access for the first time to acrylic paint and canvas. The raw, bold and brightly coloured images that emerged shocked and defied preconceptions of Aboriginal art.

Amy Johnson Jirwulurr and Sambo Burra Burra are both committed painters and continually expand their repertoire, producing startling, powerful and very beautiful work.

Amy Johnson Jirwulurr is represented in Major Australian public and private collections.
Group Exhibitions

1991- Aboriginal Art and Spirituality, High Court, Canberra, ACT
1991- Aboriginal Women’s Exhibition, Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney, nsw
1992- Aboriginal Women’s Exhibition, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, VIC
1992- Aboriginal Women’s Exhibition, Tandanya, Adelaide, SA
1993- Gold Coast City Award, Surfers Paradise, QLD
1995- The 12th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award , Darwin, N.T
1997- Ngundungunya: Art for Everyone, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, VIC

Awards

1993- Rothmans Foundation Award, Northern Territory Aboriginal Art Award

Publications

Aboriginal Art and Spirituality, Rosemary Crumlin (ed.), Collins Dove, 1991.
Aboriginal Art, Wally Caruana, Thames and Hudson, London, 1993.
The 12th Telstra National Aboriginal abd Torres Strait Islander Award, Darwin, NT, 1995.