Melville Island known in the Tiwi Language as Yermalner lies in the eastern Timor Sea, off the coast of the Northern Territory, Australia. It is west of the Cobourg Penninsua in Arnhem Land and north of Darwin.
The largest community/town on the island is Milikapati, pop. 559. The second village is Pirlangimpi (Pularumpi, formerly Garden Point), pop. 440, 27 km west of Milipakpiti, on the west coast of Melville Island. About 30 more people live in five family outstations.
At 5,786 square kilometres (2,234 sq mi) it is just outside the 100 largest islands in the world but is the second biggest island in Australia, after Tasmania (and excluding the continental landmass). It is also known in the Tiwi language as Yermalner. Only 55 metres (180 ft) south of its southern tip is Irrititu Island, with an area of 1.60 square kilometres (0.62 sq mi).
Together, Melville Island and Bathurst Islands are known as the Tiwi Island.

On the weekends whole families will jump in the car together and go out into the rich Tiwi landscape to hunt and gather native tucker. It's important to sing out for each other because whether you are collecting mussels and shellfish from the mangroves, crabs and oysters from the beach rocks or fishing in a river, you have to watch out for crocodiles!

The Tiwi traditionally paint their body for ceremony using natural earth pigments known as Ochres. This tradition of mark making is the foundation for modern Tiwi art. "For Tiwi people, to sing is to dance is to paint.".

The works acquired through this culture are extremely organic and earthy due to the medium used which is ochre on canvas. They are both sophisticated and primitive with abstract markings usually representing Jilamara – Ceremonial body art used during dance.