Tiwi Islands Aboriginal Art

A selection of paintings showing the styles from this Aboriginal art region - some paintings may still be available for sale, while some may have been sold.

 

Yalinga by Maria Josette Orsto

Maria Josette Orsto  |  Yalinga

Jap 012912  |  ochre pigments on canvas  |  200 x 150 cm

Sold

Wiyini Jilamara – Leaves Bodypainting Design by Maria Josette Orsto

Maria Josette Orsto  |  Wiyini Jilamara – Leaves Bodypainting Design

Jap 012913  |  ochre pigments on canvas  |  120 x 50 cm

Sold

Miyinga Jilamara – Scars Bodypainting Design by Maria Josette Orsto

Maria Josette Orsto  |  Miyinga Jilamara – Scars Bodypainting Design

Jap 012914  |  ochre pigments on canvas  |  80 x 30 cm

Sold

Cockatoo by Thomas Munkanome

Thomas Munkanome  |  Cockatoo

Jap 010550  |  carved wood & ochre  |  height 68 cm

Sold

Jilamara by Maria Josette Orsto

Maria Josette Orsto  |  Jilamara

Jap 012917  |  ochre pigments on canvas  |  70 x 45 cm

Sold

Wiyini Jilamara – Leaves Bodypainting Design by Maria Josette Orsto

Maria Josette Orsto  |  Wiyini Jilamara – Leaves Bodypainting Design

Jap 012931  |  ochre pigments on canvas  |  90 x 90 cm

Sold

Tiwi Masked Owl by Romolo Tipiloura

Romolo Tipiloura  |  Tiwi Masked Owl

Jap 010558  |  carved wood & ochre  |  height 54 cm

Sold

Wiyini Jilamara – Leaves Bodypainting Design by Maria Josette Orsto

Maria Josette Orsto  |  Wiyini Jilamara – Leaves Bodypainting Design

Jap 012932  |  ochre pigments on canvas  |  90 x 60 cm

Sold

Water Bird by Michael Munkara

Michael Munkara  |  Water Bird

Jap 010559  |  carved wood & ochre  |  height 77 cm

Sold

Owl by Romolo Tipiloura

Romolo Tipiloura  |  Owl

Jap 010538  |  carved wood & ochre  |  height 48 cm

Sold

Jilamara by Brian Farmer Illortaminni

Brian Farmer Illortaminni  |  Jilamara

Jap 015739  |  natural ochres on canvas  |  110 x 85 cm

Sold

Pearly Shell by Maria Josette Orsto

Maria Josette Orsto  |  Pearly Shell

Jap 012937  |  ochre pigments on canvas  |  120 x 90 cm

Sold

Jaliwaki – Bush Potato by Dino Wilson

Dino Wilson   |  Jaliwaki – Bush Potato

Jap 018026  |  natural ochres on linen  |  150 x 150 cm

Sold

Bima by Maria Jostte Orsto

Maria Jostte Orsto  |  Bima

Jap 010547  |  carved wood & ochre  |  height 45 cm

Sold

Jilamara by Dymphna Kerinaiua

Dymphna Kerinaiua   |  Jilamara

Jap 015751  |  natural ochres on canvas  |  88 x 56 cm

Yirrinkiripwoja – Body Paint Design by Michelle Bush

Michelle Bush   |  Yirrinkiripwoja – Body Paint Design

Jap 018023  |  natural ochres on canvas  |  120 x 60 cm

Jilamara by Raymond Bush

Raymond Bush   |  Jilamara

Jap 018033  |  natural ochres on canvas  |  90 x 81 cm

Purukupali by Cyril James Kerinauia

Cyril James Kerinauia  |  Purukupali

Jap 010564  |  cast bronze  |  height 35 cm

Jinani by Cyril James Kerinauia

Cyril James Kerinauia  |  Jinani

Jap 010565  |  cast bronze  |  height 59 cm

Miyaringa Jilamara by Raelene Kerinauia Liddy

Raelene Kerinauia Liddy  |  Miyaringa Jilamara

Jap 018024  |  natural ochres on linen  |  120 x 90 cm

Bima by Carmelina Puantulura

Carmelina Puantulura  |  Bima

Jap 010568  |  carved wood & ochre  |  height 58 cm

Sold

Cockatoo by Thomas Munkanome

Thomas Munkanome  |  Cockatoo

Jap 010549  |  carved wood & ochre  |  height 63 cm

Sold

Bima by Carmelina Puantulura

Carmelina Puantulura  |  Bima

Jap 010569  |  carved wood & ochre  |  height 46 cm

Sold

Pakataringa Jilamara – Leaves & Rain Bodypainting Design by Maria Josette Orsto

Maria Josette Orsto  |  Pakataringa Jilamara – Leaves & Rain Bodypainting Design

Jap 012942  |  ochre pigments on canvas  |  90 x 60 cm

Sold

Owl by Romolo Tipiloura

Romolo Tipiloura  |  Owl

Jap 010539  |  carved wood & ochre  |  height 39 cm

Sold

Miyinga Jilamara – Scars Bodypainting Design by Maria Josette Orsto

Maria Josette Orsto  |  Miyinga Jilamara – Scars Bodypainting Design

Jap 012933  |  ochre pigments on canvas  |  90 x 60 cm

Sold

Pukamani Pole by Immaculata Tipiloura

Immaculata Tipiloura  |  Pukamani Pole

Jap 010555  |  carved wood & ochre  |  height 48 cm

Sold

Pukamani Pole by Tess Tipungwuti

Tess Tipungwuti  |  Pukamani Pole

Jap 010554  |  carved wood & ochre  |  height 70 cm

Kulama by Timothy Cook

Timothy Cook  |  Kulama

Jap 009441  |  ochre on linen  |  52 x 45 cm

Jilamara – Body Paint Design by Ian Cook

Ian Cook  |  Jilamara – Body Paint Design

Jap 009676  |  ochre on linen  |  48 x 48 cm

The Tiwi Islands, located  in the Timor Sea 100km north of Darwin, are home to the Tiwi people and consist of two main islands, Melville Island, (5,788 sq kms) and Bathurst Island  (2,200 sq Kms). The Apsely Strait divides the islands and separates them from the Australian mainland.

The Tiwi Islands lie in the tropical zone and Tiwi people identify three separate seasons – the dry season (smoke), the build up to the Wet (cicadas song) and the Wet (tropical storms). The seasons are the key to the Tiwi cycle of life, determining the availability of bush foods and the appropriate ceremonial rituals.

The Tiwi Islands are also the home of three separate art centres –Tiwi Design, Jilamara and Munupi Arts and Crafts. The signature style for Tiwi artists is deeply embedded in the cultural and ceremonial practices of the islands. Tiwi Design is located at the settlement of Nguiu on the south-eastern corner of Bathurst Island. Nguiu township is home to about 1500 people and the art centre began work in 1968, evolving a fabric printing business based on wood block printing. Today the art centre comprises a painting studio, wood carving area, pottery studio, screen printing studio, plus office and gallery.

Tiwi social structure is based on skin groups which are matrilineal, being inherited down the mother’s line and determining which future marriage arrangements are acceptable. The role of ceremonies is vitally important in Tiwi society as part of the oral cultural tradition. Ceremony format may vary due to the local circumstances and time, but remains embedded in the cultural tradition of the past. The dominant ceremonial events that are performed are the annual Kulama Ceremony and the Pukumani funeral ceremony.

The Tiwi Creation stories tell of the Palaneri, the Dreaming at the beginning of time, where the Tiwi Islands and people were created from the darkness that existed before. The cultural stories and ceremonies provide the basis for contemporary Tiwi art which includes painting, carving, sculpture and printing.

Tiwi Carvings & Sculptures – Exhibition