Timothy Cook
1958
Region: Bathurst & Melville Islands
Community: Milikapiti
Outstation: Goose Creek
Language: Tiwi
Art Centre: Jilamara Arts & Craft
In his distinctively clear and striking style, Timothy Cook loves to work with the ‘old designs’, transposing the exuberant culture of his Tiwi tradition into the contemporary art-space.
PROFILE
Timothy Cook
1958
Region: Bathurst & Melville Islands
Community: Milikapiti
Outstation: Goose Creek
Language: Tiwi
Art Centre: Jilamara Arts & Craft
In his distinctively clear and striking style, Timothy Cook loves to work with the ‘old designs’, transposing the exuberant culture of his Tiwi tradition into the contemporary art-space. He works at Milikapiti on Melville island, north of Darwin and has been exhibiting his paintings and prints since the late 1990’s. During this time and with other artists from the Jilamara Arts and Crafts Association, he visited the ‘Mountford Barks’ in the Adelaide Museum. This historic collection was instrumental in Cook’s revisioning of the past, creating an artistic response in keeping with both ancient traditions and modern practises. In 2012, after being included as a finalist for many years, Cook won the prestigious NATSI Art Award and since then has gone on to receive much acclaim.
Cook’s early career collaboration with professional printmakers who ran workshops on Melville Island, encouraged his eye for bold design. His experimentation with composition fed into larger painting works which always have an engaging clarity. Many of Cook’s painting refer to Kulama, the Tiwi ceremony of the wild yam harvest. Kulama also is a time of initiation. Three days of body painting, singing and dancing, welcome the boys into manhood and gives them their adult name. The whole community joins in and because it is the end of the wet season (March/April), the Tiwi Islands are burgeoning with new life.
During this time, a ring appears around the moon (Japarra). This circle often features centrally in Cook’s paintings and reflects the circular dances of ceremony as well as corresponding body painting designs. Cross motifs signify a spirit place of significance, while smaller dots and circles are yams and or stars (japalinga). With crushed charcoal providing dark base areas, vivid natural ochres of red, white and yellow stand out in a vibrant symmetry of dots. While his design is precise, Cook’s painting method is gestural and unhesitatingly, reflecting the power behind an ancient but still living tradition.
The Pukumani (funeral) ceremony and the myths of Purukapali, the Tiwi ancestral figure who first brought death into the world, are also central Tiwi themes. The valuing of aesthetic ingenuity and innovation has long been a part of their object making around mourning rituals. The rich artistic legacy of the Tiwi Islands has played a key role in the recognition and ongoing evolving of Aboriginal Art. Timothy Cook’s place in this story is attested to by his inclusion in Australia’s national galleries and increasingly, international collections.
Isaacs, Jennifer, Tiwi: Art, History, Culture, Melbourne University Press, 2012
Rey, Una, MCA Collection Handbook, mca.com.au/artists "
ARTIST CV
Selected Collections:
Aboriginal Art Museum, The Netherlands.
Artbank Collection, Sydney.
Art Gallery of NSW.
Laverty Collection, Sydney.
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Canberra.
National Gallery of Australia.
The National Gallery of Victoria.
Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane.
Selected Solo Exhibition:
2019 - Vivien Anderson Gallery, Melbourne VIC
2018 - Yingarti Japarra (All the moons), Aboriginal and Pacific Art Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2016 - Full Moon, Luc Nerthier Galerie, Paris
2015 - Dancing With the Moon, Seva Frangos Art, Perth
2014 - Timothy Cook, Aboriginal & Pacific Art Gallery, Sydney
2013 - Timothy Cook, Seva Frangos Art, Perth
2012 - Timothy Cook , New Works, Aboriginal & Pacific Art Gallery, Sydney
2011 - Timothy Cook, Seva Frangos Art, Perth
2010 - New works by Timothy Cook, Aboriginal and Pacific Art Gallery, Sydney
2008 - Timothy Cook New Paintings, Aboriginal & Pacific Art Gallery, Sydney
2005 - Tartuwali apapirraya (the shark goes south), Aboriginal & Pacific Art Gallery, Sydney
2008 - Timothy Cook, Seva Frangos Gallery, Perth
2004 - Tarduwuli come to George Street, Aboriginal & Pacific Art Gallery, Sydney
2003 - Aboriginal & Pacific Art Gallery, Sydney.
2002 - Aboriginal & Pacific Art Gallery, Sydney.
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2023 - Sir John Sulman Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, finalists exhibition
2023 - Bayside Acquisitive Art Prize, Bayside Arts & Cultural Centre, Melbourne, finalists exhibition
2022 - National Works on Paper, Mornington Peninsula Regional Art Gallery, Mornington, VIC, finalists exhibition
2022 - The Blake Prize, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Sydney, finalists exhibition
2021 - Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards, Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory, Darwin, finalists exhibition
2020 - TIWI, Ian Potter Centre National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.
2020 - Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney, finalists exhibition
2020 - National Works on Paper, Mornington Peninsula Regional Art Gallery, Mornington, VIC, finalists exhibition
2019 - Hadley's Art Prize - finalists' exhibition, Hadely's Orient Hotel, Tasmania
2019 - turnuwa amintiya kirijipuni, Short Street Gallery, Broome, WA
2018 - Yati Ratuwati Yatuwati (One Island, One Side), Munupi and Jilamara working Together.
2018 - Tim, Tom E., Harry, Rusty, Tiger & Pussycat Recent works on Paper with Basil Hall, Nancy Severs Gallery, Canberra, ACT
2018 - Tarnanthi Art Fair, Tandanya, Adelaide, SA
2018 - Tanz Im Mondenschein, AboriginalArt Austellung, Art Karlsruhe, Freiburg and Schorndorf, Germany
2018 - Print & Paper, Tunbridge Gallery, Cottesloe, WA
2018 - Palaneri - Aboriginal Art Der Tiwi, Art Kelch, Freiburg, Germany
2018 - Nginingawula Awirankiniwaki, Tiwi Exhibition, Doubletree Hilton, Darwin, NT
2018 - Jilamara and Munupi Arts group exhibition, Chapman & Bailey,Melbourne, VIC
2018 - Jane McKenzie In the service of poetry & Jilamara Arts, Koskela Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2018 - Fig Bilbao Art Fair, in conjunction with Print Council of Australia, Bilbao, Spain
2017 - Yirringinkiri Pwoja, Double Tree Hilton, Darwin, NT
2017 - Tiwi Time, Art Mob, Hobart, TAS
2017 - Tarnanthi Art Fair, Tandanya, Adelaide, SA
2017 - Ngini Parlingarri Amintiya Ningani (past, present, future), Nomad Art Gallery, Darwin, NT
2017 - NATSIAA, MAGNT, Darwin, NT
2017 - Being Tiwi, Morree Plains Gallery, Morree, NSW
2017 - Being Tiwi, Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, WA
2017 - Being Tiwi, Glasshouse Port Macquarie, NSW
2016 - Being Tiwi, featuring Pedro Wonaeamirri, Timothy Cook, Raelene Kerinauia, Maria Josette Orsto, Eddie Puruntatameri, Giovanni Tipungwuti, Cornelia Tipuamantumirri, Nina Puruntatameri,Bede Tungutalum, Australian travelling exhibition.
2016 - Cooee Art at Australian Galleries, featuring Albert Namatjira, Alma Webou, Bill Whisky Tjapaltjarri, Daniel Walbidi, Djirrirra Wunungmurra, Dorothy Napangardi, Elizabeth Nyumi, Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Emily Kngwarreye, Freddie Timms, George Hairbrush Tjungurrayi, Gloria Petyarre, Jan Billycan, John Mawurndjul , Johnny Warangkula, Kathleen Petyarre, Makinti Napanangka, Milliga Napaltjarri, Minnie Pwerle, Naata Nungurrayi, Nyurapayia Nampitjinpa (Mrs Bennett), Owen Yalandja, Prince of Wales , Queenie Nakarra McKenzie , Rover Thomas, Sally Gabori , Suzie Bootja Bootja, Timothy Cook , Tjapartji Bates, Tommy Watson, Trevor Nickolls , Yirawala, at Australian Galleries, Sydney.
2015 - Indigenous Art: Moving Backwards into the Future, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.
2015 - Kuripapuranjuwi Ngini Ngawila Jilamara Kapi Ngawa Tiwi: Tiwi Show, Darwin
2015 - Dancing With the Moon, Seva Frangos Art, Perth
2013 - My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Contemporary Art from Black Australia, Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane.
2012 - 29th Telstra NATSIAA Awards, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin.
2011 - Western Australian Indigenous Art Award – finalists, featuring Jan Billycan, Michael Cook, Timothy Cook, Angkaliya Curtis, Gunybi Ganambarr, Angelina George, Gary Lee, Danie Mellor, Patrick Mung Mung, Trevor Nickolls, Lena Nyadbi, Tiger Palpatja, Kuruwarriyingathi Bijarrb Paula Paul, Reko Gwaybilla Rennie, Nyilyari Tjapangati, Nyapanyapa Yunupingu, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth.
2011 - 28th Telstra National Aboriginal Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin.
2010 - Emerging Elders, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.
2009 - Floating Life - Contemporary Aboriginal Fibre Art, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane.
2009 - Mukumuwu - To be Together including Pedro Wonaeamirri, Timothy Cook, Conrad Tipungwuti, Raelene Kerinauia, Jean Baptiste Apuatimi, Maria Josette Orsto, Ita Tipungwuti, Susan Wanji Wanji, Nina Puruntatameri and Robert Puruntatameri, organised by the Tiwi Art Network, at the Holiday Inn, Darwin, NT.
2006 - Xstrata Coal Emerging Indigenous Art Award Artists, Queensland Art Gallery.
2005 - Yirrarra - Kulama amintiya Pukumani, Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne; Recent work by Conrad Tipungwuti and Timothy Cook, Raft, Darwin; 22nd Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin.
2004 - 21st Telstra National Aborigainal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin.
2003 - One Voice, Two Islands, Three Communities, Chapman Gallery, Canberra ; Let’s Keep Our Art Strong: Recent works from the Jilamara Artists, Raft Artspace, Darwin; Kuturkuni Amintiya Tapulunni, RAFT Artspace, Darwin; Exhibition aboard the luxury liner The World, Melbourne to Tokyo; Big Country, Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs; Alliance Française Gallery, Canberra 24 – 29 October in association with Chapman Gallery.
2002 - Summer Collector’s Exhibition, Alison Kelly Gallery, Melbourne; Pwoja Jilamara Raft Artspace Darwin; Awuna Mantawi Hello My Friends, Tandanya, Adelaide; 27th Annual Shell Fremantle Print Award Fremantle Art Centre; 19th NATSIAA, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin; Pwoja Jilamara, Raft Artspace Darwin.
2001 - Taykwapi Tiwi RAFT Artspace, Darwin; Ochre Short Street Gallery Broome; Jilamara, Jilamara Framed Gallery Darwin; Jilamara- New Work, Redback Art Gallery Brisbane; Island Images Australian Print Workshop Melbourne.
2000 - This Earth for Us, Commonwealth Institute, London; Heritage Art Award, Canberra; From Mythology to the Present, Wuerzburg , Germany.
1999 - New Paintings from Milikapiti, Redback Gallery, Brisbane; Art of the Tiwi, Framed Gallery Darwin; Tiwi on Wood, Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne; New Paintings from Milikapiti, Redback Gallery, Brisbane; Art of the Tiwi, Framed Gallery Darwin.
1998 - The Old and the New, Gallery Gondwana Alice Springs NT; Ngawa Mantawi Mossenson Gallery Subiaco Perth; Jilamara, Mossenson Gallery, Subiaco WA; Group Exhibition, Alcaston House Gallery, Melbourne Victoria.
1998- 2000 - One Thousand Journeys, Tin Sheds Gallery, Sydney & touring exhibition
1997 - Old Tiwi, Alcaston House Gallery Melbourne Vic.; Old Designs Framed Gallery Darwin NT; Kartukuni Amintiya Jurra (Ironwood and Paper) Hogarth Gallery Paddington NSW.
Bibliography:
Bennett, J. Ngingingawula Jilamara kapi purunguparri (Our Paintings on Bark) Gallery Monthly Magazine of the National Gallery Society of Victoria, September. 1992
The Body Tiwi Aboriginal Art from Melville and Bathurst Islands, catalogue, The University Gallery, University of Tasmania at Launceston, 1993.
Art of the Tiwi from the Collection of the National Gallery of Victoria, catalogue, NGV Melbourne, 1994.
MARKET ANALYSIS
Timothy Cook's secondary art market is notably scarce. The fluctuations in sales, clearance rates, and overall market engagement are heavily influenced by the limited availability of his works, which impacts both demand and pricing. Years like 2005, 2007, 2008, 2013, and 2014, which recorded clearance rates of 100%, indicate a strong correlation between limited supply and high demand.
In these years, the availability of Cook’s works prompted immediate interest from buyers. 2008 stands out with five works sold and total revenue of A$17,812. In 2016 his works achieved the highest revenue with only one work Kulama (2013) , sold by Deutscher and Hackett for A$24,400, indicating strong price performance.
The recent years (2020-2023) indicate a potential resurgence in interest, particularly with the successful sales in 2023 (five works sold with 71% clearance rate). This suggests a renewed appreciation for Cook's work or improved market conditions.
Disclaimer: At Cooee Art Leven, we strive to maintain accurate and respectful artist profiles. Despite our efforts, there may be occasional inaccuracies. We welcome any corrections or suggested amendments.
Please contact us with your feedback.