 Tiwi art and culture is widely recognised for its unique aesthetics and its connection to ceremonial life. A large percentage of Tiwi artwork celebrates the ocean, hunting and fishing, ocean creatures and their ceremonial and cultural significance.
Today Tiwi artists produce high quality paintings, fabrics and sculpture for exhibition in Australia and overseas. The main themes of the pieces relate to the Pukumani ceremony and pwoja (body painting). The body painting imagery is used as a way of masking people's identity so the deceased cannot reclaim their loved ones.
Detailed Jilamara (design) also decorates the tutini (burial or Pukumani poles) in honour of the dead. These poles are now recreated for the fine art market, and are always made of cured ironwood. Smaller figurative and bird sculptures are also available.
The Tiwi people produce a wide variety of unique art pieces including:
weavings, prints, paintings, carvings, ceramics, jewellery, distinctive batik and silk-screened clothing, woven bangles, painted conch shells, unique Pukumani burial poles
These are all available for purchase at the Tiwi Island's three art centres:
Tiwi Design at Nguiu, Bathurst Island
Jilamara at Milikapiti, Melville Island
Munupi at Pularumpi, Melville Island
Each centre produces traditional and contemporary Tiwi art and has its own unique style:
Tiwi Design produces a wide range of screen-printed fabrics and a diversity of artwork from carvings to funky ceramic sculptures and paintings on paper and canvas using ochres and traditional Tiwi designs.
Jilamara produces innovative and contemporary body painting designs on canvas and large carvings, including Pukumani Poles. Artists use natural ochres in traditional colours.
Munupi artists present a fresh and vibrant approach that has developed into a unique individual style using rich colours in their paintings, prints and pottery, often depicting animals that are ‘good to eat' and traditional designs.
For much more information on Tiwi art and some superb imagery, visit www.tiwiart.com
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