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Click to enlargeb. 1965
- Region
- Tiwi Islands
- Community
- Wurrumiyanga (Nguiu)
- Language group
- Tiwi
Tiwi Bird, 2021
natural earth pigments on carved ironwood
20 x 6 cm
$160
Secure payment via Stripe. Prices in AUD.
- Provenance
- Ngaruwanajirri, Bathurst Island, NT, Cat No. 774-21
- Artwork story
- Barry Kantilla’s work is grounded in the Tiwi creation narrative that explains the origin of death and the first Pukumani (mortuary) ceremony. In this story, a moral transgression leads to the death of a child and the subsequent mourning ritual that became the foundation of Tiwi funerary practices. From this tradition developed the carving and painting of tutini (ceremonial poles) and figures placed at gravesites during extended rituals of song and dance. Tiwi artistic practice — including figure and animal carving — evolved from this ceremonial context and is marked by bold geometry, rhythmic patterning, and dynamic energy. While the tradition continued and adapted after European contact, it remains deeply tied to Tiwi law, history and belief.