Rug, Wall Hanging, S, Wool, Aboriginal Design, outlet Chainstitch, Kashmir, Australia, Tiwi, Kulama, Nina Puruntatameri, Munupi Arts, Living Room

These beautiful woollen embroideries work equally well as floor rugs and wall hangings. As a wall hanging they are superb statement pieces with color, warmth and texture.
This elegant and simple design is a beautiful depiction of Jilamara - Tiwi iconography
Chain-stitched kilims are a traditional rug making technique from Kashmir. As people sat on the floor they were both homewares and decoration.
The designs are by Australian Aboriginal artists, they are then chain-stitched in wool onto a canvas backing each cushion cover is an interpretation of an original artwork, usually a painting.
Front of each rug is wool embroidered onto a cotton canvas and back is cotton canvas with a non-slip surface.
Each rug has a flap on one of the shorter sides for hanging portrait style, simply slide a piece of dowel or curtain rod in and hang. As the artworks are painting on the ground most of the images do not have a set orientation so can also be hung landscape if preferred.
The rug is regular in size - it's my photography that's slight irregular, sorry.
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These are surprisingly hard-wearing and I use them as both rugs and as and beautifully textured affordable works of art.
Limited Edition: Each rug is individually numbered and shipped with an individual document of Authenticity that gives provenance. No more than 100 rugs will ever be made in this outlet design and size.
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Artist: Nina Puruntatameri, from Munupi Arts on Melville Island
Title: Kulama
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SIZE:
Rectangular: 61 cm (24 inches) x 91.5 cm (36 inches)
Composition: wool (front) and cotton (back)
Color: the photos are color accurate
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CARE INSTRUCTIONS:
Do not put place/use in direct sunlight or colors may fade. To clean - careful hand-wash in warm water using a wool detergent. Can be ironed on a wool setting.
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The artist:
Nina Puruntatameri (born 1971) was taught to paint by her father, Romuald Puruntatameri.
As a 14 year old, she would come home from school and work with him, painting his spears. Nina Puruntatameri has worked at both Nguiu Adult Education and Munupi Arts & Crafts doing bark painting, screenprinting, works on linen, etchings and linocuts.
In 1993 Nina Puruntatameri won the Award for New Medium at the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards in Darwin, providing recognition for her exceptional skills in etching. Her father, Romuald Puruntatameri, is represented in the Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory Collection.Her grandfather, Paddy Teeampi Tepomitari Puruntatameri,and her aunt, Rosina Puantulura,both carvers, are represented in the Melbourne Museum Collection.
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About the design: Kulama
The Kulama ceremony was given to the Tiwi people by the Nyingawi who are little spirit people (in Tiwi mythology). It is a celebration of life and food, occurring at the end of the wet season. The Tiwi know when to perform Kulama when the last full mooon of the wet season has a yellow halo surrounding it, which tells them that Japarra (the moon man) is ready for it to begin.
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About the BWA chainstitchh kilim products
These beautiful, unique textiles are a cross-cultural collaboration combining Aboriginal designs and traditional Kashmiri rug-making techniques. Chain stitched, using hand dyed wool, each is a completely handmade piece. A more empowering way to work, this brings many direct benefits to the artists' and their community. Control and ownership of intellectual property are also maintained. Purchase of these products guarantees a direct return to the Aboriginal artist and their community.
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About my connection wtih Better World Arts
I met founder of BWA in 2004 whilst doing a consultancy in the APY Lands preparing marketing plans for five art centres for Ananguku Arts. I was gobsmacked by this terrific fair trade project that Kaltjiti Arts was then doing with Caroline Wilson. As a textile nut, the artisan skills and use of wool appealed to me and the rendering of Indigenous designs in rugs and cushion covers is so lovely. I later encouraged them to work with other art centres and introduced them to Warlukurlangu Artists and Injalak Arts. Flick (founder of Flying Fox Fabrics)
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BWA
Better World Arts has been operating for over two decades. Our role models were Oxfam, Fred Hollows (the Fred Hollows Foundation) and Anita Roddick (The Body Shop).
We work with traditional artisans from remote regions in Kashmir, Peru, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Nepal (Tibetan refugees). More recently we have started working with China, making bone china and silk ties.
We work with Australian Aboriginal artists from remote communities across Australia, from Arnhem Land to Central and the Western Desert regions, from rural locations and from cities.