Tiwi Tutini (Poles for Tiwi Pukumani ceremony), Ed 1/1
- Linoblock design: Samson Poantumilui
- Painting by Marie Yvonne Tipuamantumirri
- 38cm x 28cm
- Hand painted lino print
- Cat No 279-21
- Art Centre: Ngaruwanajirri Inc. Bathhurt Island, Tiwi
Samson Poantumilui is a printmaker working from Ngaru wanajirri Inc, Bathurst and Melville are the two islands that make up the Tiwi Islands. They are about 45 minutes by light aircraft from Darwin on the mainland. They sit in the Arafura Sea.
The pass between Bathurst and Melville Islands is notorious for being shark infested. A fact instilled in the thoughts of Tiwi children in order to keep them safe.
Tiwi Islanders have become quite proficient at print making, fairly recent addition to their menu of artistic endeavors. The Poantumului’s are among the most avid print makers of Tiwi.
Marie Yvonne Tipuamantumirri was born 1959 in Bathurst hospital run by the Catholic Mission and went to St Theresa School in Wurrimiyanga and then St John College in Darwin. Her skin group is Takaringuwi (Scaly Mullet) and her dreaming is Ampijti (Rainbow Serpent). After school she became a bi- lingual assistant teacher, literacy worker and translator. She moved to Pirlangimpi with her husband and three children a long time ago, and has worked with the Art Centre for many years while teaching and doing other jobs in the Community.
Ngaruwanajirri Incorporated is an arts centre at Wurrumiyanga on Bathurst Island. Ngaruwanajirri, which means ‘helping one another’ in Tiwi, was established in 1994. It was originally set up for disabled Tiwi residents but now includes all artists, with the original artists working with traditional wood carvers. Art created includes natural ochre paintings on paper and canvas, batik on silk, lino prints on paper and fabric and ironwood carvings. Many paintings and carvings from Ngaruwanajirri, including tutini poles for Pukumani ceremonies, have been exhibited in Darwin, interstate and overseas. Works reside in private collections and art galleries both nationally and internationally.
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