Tiwi and Mornington Island Artists
Mirndiyan Gununa Aboriginal Corporation, which supports both Tiwi and Mornington Island artists, stands as one of the most respected and longest-running Aboriginal art and cultural organisations in Australia. Located in the remote Gulf of Carpentaria in Northern Queensland, the Corporation is proudly Indigenous-owned and governed. An Indigenous-majority workforce leads its cultural preservation, artistic innovation, and community-focused programs.
Artists and Practice
The artists represented by Mirndiyan Gununa include Ancila Warlapijimayuwu Kuwupuwu, Fiona Kulparntuwu Kerinaiua, Helena Gabori, Mandy Narantijil, Dorothy Gabori, Joelene Roughsey, Jonathan Toby, Elsie Gabori, Netta Loogatha, Amy Loogatha, Venita Chong, Amanda Jane Gabori, and Agnes Kohler. These Tiwi and Mornington Island artists each bring a distinctive voice grounded in ancestral knowledge and a deep spiritual connection to Country. Their creative practices include painting, music, dance, and storytelling—each a conduit for passing down cultural narratives.
The MIArt studio on Mornington Island serves as a dynamic cultural hub. Language plays a central role in the artists’ creative processes, serving as both a mode of communication and a vessel of historical and spiritual knowledge. Through this language-rich environment, the artists maintain and renew cultural connections while sharing their work with the broader world.
Artistic Vision
Despite geographical isolation, Tiwi and Mornington Island artists remain central to the evolution of contemporary Indigenous art. Their work integrates personal experiences and collective memory, yielding artworks that are both deeply spiritual and visually striking. Emerging talents such as Amanda Jane Gabori and Venita Chong create alongside established artists like Netta and Amy Loogatha, ensuring a robust intergenerational transfer of knowledge and style.
The artworks produced reflect powerful cultural identities. Every piece reveals the artists’ enduring ties to the Old People and to Country. Artistic practice becomes a vibrant means of cultural expression and survival.
History and Background
Mornington Island, the largest of 22 islands in the Wellesley Islands group, is home to Gununa—the only permanent settlement, with a population of around 1,200. The Traditional Owners of the region include the Lardil, Kaiadilt, Yangkal, Kankalida, and Waanyi peoples. These communities have lived in the area for more than 8,000 years, preserving their traditions through songlines, storytelling, and ceremonial practices.
In 1914, Presbyterian missionaries arrived. By the 1920s, many Aboriginal people were forcibly relocated to Mornington Island. The mission era (1921–1965) introduced a dormitory system, dismantled kinship structures, and banned the use of Aboriginal languages. Despite these hardships, cultural knowledge survived and eventually flourished once more.
Evolution of Art Practice
Art remained an essential outlet for cultural expression even during adversity. By the 1950s, artists were making artefacts and bark paintings using natural ochres. Acrylic painting emerged in the 1970s, leading to the creation of works for sale. The 1980s saw the establishment of a dedicated art and craft facility. In 2004, the focus shifted to fine art, empowering artists to develop their skills further.
A key moment came in 2005, with a professional development workshop facilitated by artist Simon Turner and an inaugural exhibition at Woolloongabba Art Gallery in Brisbane. The renaming of Woomera Aboriginal Corporation to Mirndiyan Gununa Aboriginal Corporation in 2009 marked a new era. With it came the formation of MIArt, MIDance, and MI Festival. A dedicated artist studio followed in 2010/11, cementing the Corporation’s commitment to creativity and growth.
Trailblazers like Goobalathaldin Dick Roughsey and Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori have profoundly influenced the MIArt program. Their legacies continue to inspire current artists across all generations.
A Living Culture
Mirndiyan Gununa Aboriginal Corporation continues to nurture the vibrant practices of Tiwi and Mornington Island artists. Their work contributes to the rich tapestry of Australia’s contemporary art scene while holding firm to ancestral roots. Culture remains a living, evolving force, powerfully communicated through every brushstroke, story, and dance.
Through their artistic excellence, the Tiwi and Mornington Island artists affirm their cultural identity and demonstrate the enduring relevance and resilience of Aboriginal culture.