Jean Baptiste Apuatimi facts for kids

Jean Baptiste Apuatimi (1940–2013) was a very important artist from the Tiwi Islands in Australia. Her amazing artworks are kept in many big galleries across Australia and even in the British Museum in London. She first showed her art in group exhibitions starting in 1991. From 1997 until she passed away, Apuatimi worked full-time with the Tiwi Design Aboriginal Cooperative, which is now known as Tiwi Designs.

Growing Up on the Tiwi Islands

Jean Baptiste was born in 1940. This was at a place called Pirlangimpi on Yermalner (Melville Island). Her father gave her the Tiwi name Pulukatu. When she was a child, her family moved to Bathurst Island. She went to school at the Catholic Bathurst Island Mission. When she was 14 years old, her parents chose Declan Apuatimi to be her husband. He was ten years older than her.

Her Artistic Journey

Jean Baptiste said that her husband, Declan Apuatimi, was her inspiration. He was a famous carver and taught her how to create art. After Declan Apuatimi had his first solo art show in 1987, artists from the Tiwi Islands became known all over Australia and even around the world.

This interest in their art helped make traditional Tiwi artworks even stronger. Jean Baptiste became a leader in this unique style. She started painting after her husband passed away in 1985. In 1989, she joined other Tiwi women artists, Kitty Kantilla and Freda Warlapinni. Together, they helped create the Jilamara Arts Centre. This centre is at Milikapiti on Melville Island. It helped the art community grow and made the region's art even more famous.

First Exhibitions and Recognition

Just three years after the Jilamara Arts Centre began, Jean Baptiste's paintings were part of its first group show. This exhibition was called Ngingingawula Jilamara Kapi Purunguparri (Our Designs on Bark). It took place at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). The NGV was so impressed that it bought every single artwork from the show for its collection!

In 2007, Jean Baptiste was one of five main Indigenous artists featured in a special exhibition. This was the very first National Indigenous Art Triennial at the National Gallery of Australia. The exhibition was named Culture Warriors. In 2009, it traveled all the way to Washington, D.C., in the United States. Jean Baptiste went to the opening of the show there. A striking photograph was taken of her in front of one of her artworks, Yirrakamini (2007).

Later Works and Stories

In 2012, an exhibition for the Darwin Festival showed works by Jean Baptiste and Maria Josette Orsto. This show was called Maternal Lines. It opened on August 11, 2012, at the Northern Editions Gallery.

Her artworks were also a big part of the NGV's TIWI exhibition in 2020-2021. These included paintings like Purrukuparli and Wai-ai and Purrukuparli ngirramini. These paintings used earth pigments on canvas. They told the story of Purrukuparli, which explains how death first came to the Tiwi people. They also showed the beginnings of the first pukumani (mourning) ceremony. Other paintings were on bark, such as Jilamara and Pamijini, Pamijini alikwampini amintiya tutini. These were abstract designs using earth pigments on stringybark. They showed jilmara (body painting), tutini (poles), and pamijini (arm bands).

Her artwork, Jikapayinga, was also shown in a major exhibition. This was "Know my name: Australian women artists 1900 to now" at the National Gallery of Australia.

Her Unique Artistic Style

Jean Baptiste is famous for sharing the Tiwi Island style of jilamara with the world. She called it "body painting style." She especially used the long, geometric designs. These designs were traditionally painted on a widow's body before a special washing ceremony. She started her art career by carving in wood. Later, she began painting on canvas and bark.

Where You Can See Her Art

• Eighteen artworks by Jean Baptiste Apuatimi are kept at the National Gallery of Australia.
• Twenty artworks by Jean Baptiste Apuatimi are at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV).
• Her painting Jilamara (2012) is at the Art Gallery of NSW.
• You can find Jean Baptiste Apuatimi's works at the Charles Darwin University Art Collection and Art Gallery.
• Her artworks Parlini Jilmara Tunga and Tunga (basket) are at the British Museum.
• Her artwork Pwanga is at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.