Click to enlargeb. 1967
- Region
- Tiwi Islands
- Community
- Wurrumiyanga (Nguiu)
- Language group
- Tiwi
Owl
natural earth pigments and synthetic polymer paint on hand-carved ironwood
29 x 9 cm
$480
- Provenance
- Tiwi Designs, Wurrumiyanga, Bathurst Island, NT
- Artwork story
- Mario Munkara is a well-known artist from Bathurst Island, part of the Tiwi Islands in the Northern Territory. He specialises in creating intricate ironwood bird carvings which are painted with natural earth pigments. Bird carvings are central to Tiwi creation stories and are often used in Pukumani (funeral) ceremonies. The birds, such as owls and other species, are believed to act as messengers between the spiritual and physical worlds, playing roles as witnesses, mourners, and guides.