At 27 years of age, Roslyn Orsto is the youngest painter at Tiwi Design on Bathurst Island. And yet, he calls Jean Baptiste Apuatimi (the most senior artist) daughter. Ita Tipungwuti (b.1966) calls Jean aunty and she calls Roslyn daughter. Roslyn and Ita call each other sister. According to Roslyn “I have got my father’s blood. I also have his country. That is how we are related to each other by our father’s blood, we are one big family.”

Painting across three generations, the work of Jean Baptiste Apuatimi, Ita Tipungwuti and Roslyn Orsto is a reflection of their tight family bonds and the power of their continuing traditions.

It is also a testament to the continuing innovation of these three strong women as they explore the boundaries of their ancient and traditional designs. Mossenson Galleries Collingwood and Tiwi Design (Bathurst Island) are proud to present Ngiya Miraninga, Nyirrataninga, Ngiya Yupunga (I call her daughter, she calls me auntie, we call each other sister).