Description
Born in 1969, Alfonso has been painting with Ngaruwanajirri Artists since 1997.
His chosen media are natural ochres on Arches paper, acrylic and natural ochres on canvas, batik on silk and lino block design. His subject matter is drawn from the environment and includes, tutini (funeral poles), still life composition of carved birds, figures and faces, landscapes, modes of transport (aeroplanes, water vessels, and cars) and the built environment.
The concept of place and home were also the subject of a series of paintings executed several years ago, featuring two story houses contrasting sharply with the size and design with the predominantly one-story houses seen in Darwin and the Tiwi islands.
Alfonso has exhibited regularly in group exhibitions in Australia since 2002. His work is represented in the Bachelor Institute of Indigenous Ed Art Collection, The Lam Collection, University of San Antonio Texas, the Charles Darwin university Art Collection and private collections throughout Australia and overseas
Ngaruwanajirri Inc
Ngaruwanajirri Incorporated is an arts centre at Wurrumiyanga on Bathurst Island. Ngaruwanajirri, which means ‘helping one another’ in Tiwi, was established in 1994. It was originally set up for disabled Tiwi residents but now includes all artists, with the original artists working with traditional wood carvers. Art created includes natural ochre paintings on paper and canvas, batik on silk, lino prints on paper and fabric and ironwood carvings. Many paintings and carvings from Ngaruwanajirri, including tutini poles for Pukumani ceremonies, have been exhibited in Darwin, interstate and overseas. Works reside in private collections and art galleries both nationally and internationally.
Alfonso’s CV:
Solo Exhibitions
- 2019 Natural ochres on paper. Alfonso at Aboriginal and Pacific Art,
- Sydney 2006 “Alfonso Puautjimi Recent Works”, William Mora Galleries, Richmond, Victoria Group
Exhibitions
- 2020 Works on paper by Alfonso Puautjimi, Lorna Kantilla, Lillian Kerinaiua, Jane Tipuamantumirri and Estelle Munkanome “TIWI” NGV exhibition of Tiwi art
- 2020 Group exhibition with works by Alfonso, Lorna Kantilla, Jane Tipuamantumirri and Alexandrina Kantilla. Short St Gallery Broome WA.
- 2019 “Pupuni Jilamara Nginingwula Group exhibition with Jilamara Arts and Munupi Arts Hilton Double Tree
- 2018 “Nginingawula Awirankini Waki Group exhibition with Jilamara and Munupi from Melville Island at the Hilton Double Tree Darwin.
- 2017 Works by artists from Munupi Arts, Jilamara Arts and Crafts Association and Ngaruwanajirri Inc. Ochre works on canvas by Alfonso. ‘Yirringinkiri Pwoja’ Group exhibition Double Tree by Hilton. The Esplanade, Darwin N.T.
- 2016 Presenting new works by artists from Munupi Arts, Jilamara Arts and Crafts Association and Ngaruwanajirri Inc. ‘Ngawila Jilamara’ Double Tree by Hilton, Darwin N.T.
- 2015 Works by Alfonso Puautjimi, Jane Tipuamantumirri and Estelle Munkanome. ‘Ngaruwanajirri Tiwi Artists Aboriginal and Pacific Art, Waterloo, Sydney.
- 2013 In conjunction with Good Strong Powerful final exhibition. ‘Stable Ground’ – Artback NT exhibition, Contemporary Art Space Darwin
- 2013 Works by Jane Tipuamantumirri and Alfonso Puautjimi. ‘Alfonso & Jane’ Nomad Art Darwin N.T.
- 2011 A retrospective exhibition of works by all Ngaruwanajirri artists. ‘Ngaruwanajirri : helping one another’ Charles Darwin University Art Gallery, Casuarina, NT.
- 2011 Alfonso Puautjimi, Lorna Kantilla and Estelle Munkanome. ‘Good Strong Powerful’- Artback NT exhibition. Travelling Australia from 2011 to August 2013.
- 2010 New Tiwi works by Conrad Tipungwuti, Estelle Munkanome, Alfonso Puautjimi. No Words Necessary. Suzanne O’Connell Gallery, Australian Indigenous Art, Newfarm, Queensland.
- 2010 Alfonso works on paper with works by other Ngaruwanajirri artists. Kapala . Short St Gallery, Broome, WA.
- 2010 Natural ochres on Arches paper by Alfonso Puautjimi, Estelle Munkanome and Lorna Kantilla. Nomad Art, ACT
- 2010 Natural ochres on canvas and Arches paper by Alfonso, Estelle Munkanome and Lorna Kantilla. Outstation Art, Parap, N.T
- 2010 Works by Alfonso, Estelle Munkanome and Lorna Kantilla. “Christmas show” Raft Artspace, Alice Springs, N.T.
- 2010 Ngaruwanajirri artists and artists from Munupi Arts (Melville island) Natural ochres on Arches paper. “Arampini: Artists from the Tiwi islands” NAS Gallery, National Art School, Darlinghurst, Sydney.
- 2009 “Recent Works by Lorna Kantilla, Estelle Munkanome, Alfonso Puautjimi”, Raft Artspace, Darwin, NT
- 2008 Carvings and paintings “Tokwampini Tiwi Bird Carvings”at Aboriginal and Pacific Art, Sydney.
- 2008 “Recent Works by Lorna Kantilla, Estelle Munkanome, Alfonso Puautjimi”, Raft Artspace, Darwin, NT 2008 “Nginingawula Awirankini Waki Group exhibition with Jilamara and Munupi from Melville Island at the Hilton Double Tree Darwin.
- 2007 Ngaruwanajirri Group exhibition “Yirrinkiripwaja”, FAC Gallery, University of Wollongong, N.S.W.
- 2007 3 man show with natural ochre works on canvas by Alfonso Puautjimi, Lorna Kantilla and Estelle Munkanome. Short St Gallery, Broome, W.A.
- 2007 “Works on Paper and Canvas” by Alfonso Puautjimi, Estelle Munkanome and Lorna Kantilla. Raft Artspace, Darwin, N.T.
- 2007 Natural ochres on canvas and paper. “Ngaruwanajirri Yikurri” Aboriginal and Pacific Art, Sydney.
- 2006 3 Ngaruwanajirri artists with artists from Jilamara, Munupi and Tiwi Design. “All the Tiwi Mob”Short St Gallery, Broome, W.A.
- 2006 ‘Tiwi Art” Raft Artspace, Darwin, N.T.
- 2006 Ngaruwanajirri Group exhibition. Part of the festival of Darwin. Supreme Court, Darwin.
- 2006 Raft Artspace, Darwin N.T. 2005 “Ngaruwanajirri Artists at Raft 11” Raft Artspace, Darwin, N.T.
- 2005 “Ngaruwanajirri 2005”, works on paper. Aboriginal and Pacific Art, Sydney, N.S.W.
- 2004 “Yirrajirrima”, Raft Artspace, Darwin, N.T. 2004 “The Batchelor Collection 1994-2004.” Darwin Supreme Court Foyer, Darwin.
- 2003 “Ngaruwanajirri Yirrara” Aboriginal and Pacific Art, Sydney. 2002 Ngaruwanajirri Group Exhibition Tayikuwapi, Coomalie Culture Centre, Batchelor, NT
- 2002 “Ngaruwanajirri —Paintings by Tiwi Artists”, Aboriginal and Pacific Art, Sydney, N.S.W.
