Hand carved wood carving with hand painted ochre by Barry Kantilla Ngaruwananjirri Inc on Bathurst Island, Tiwi Islands.

• Height: 20cm 
• Cat No 578-22

Thomas Munkanome is a well-known visual artist from Bathurst Island, represented by a large volume of commercial galleries.

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.