Tiwi Statues

ART OF THE TIWI

The Tiwi’s geographical isolation from the mainland Aboriginies has resulted in several cultural differences and in the development of a number of particular art forms in paticular sculpture. Ceremonies revolve around two major cycles: the Kulama initiation ritual which celebrates life and the mortuary rites of the Pukumani.

The ceremony of Pukumani yields much of the art of the Tiwi. Spectacularly painted poles called tutini are carved from dense ironwood and used as grave-markers. The Tiwi see the poles as representing the human form, for they are intended to symbolise aspects of or associations of the deceased whose grave they surround.

Tiwi are renowned for painted figurative sculpture, a development of or rather progression of the Pukumani pole and more recently for sculptures of animals and birds.

While the traditional forms of art persist in contemporary times, since 1968 Tiwi artists have been at the fore in innovation, using new techniques and now used by the Tiwi has been expanded to include screen printed cloth, batik, ceramics, print making and painting on paper (arches and reeves) apart from canvas.

Among the younger Tiwi artists, there is a general desire to experiment with new mediums. In the late 1980’s several artists, principally women, adopted synthetic paints and gouache to revive old designs as well as create new ones. Such innovations in treatment and materials are not introduced at the expense of other forms of art. Rather, they are an innovation of the strong creative energies of Tiwi artists.

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