THECLA BERNADETTE PURUNTATAMERI - PWOJA JILAMARA
THECLA BERNADETTE PURUNTATAMERI
PWOJA JILAMARA, 2021
90 x 60 cm
Natural Earth Pigments on Canvas
REGION
Tiwi Islands, NT
PROVENANCE
Munupi Arts & Crafts, NT
Cooee Art Leven, NSW
STORY
During ceremony on the Tiwi Islands a series of ‘yoi’ (dances), are performed; some are totemic (inherited from the person's Mother) and some serve to act out the narrative of newly composed songs. Participants in these ceremonies are painted with turtiyanginari (the different natural ochre colours) in varying designs, transforming the dancers and, in some cases, providing protection against recognition by mapurtiti (spirits). These designs can be applied in different ways, one of which is using the pwoja (or kayimwagakimi), a traditional Tiwi ‘comb’ carved with a single row of teeth on one or both ends, usually made using ironwood or bloodwood. After being dipped in ochre and applied to the body a straight row of dots is imprinted. Once completed, these dots are then collectively called yirrinkiripwoja (body painting). Painting of the face also occurs. These significant artistic designs collectively are called ‘Jilamara’.
EXHIBITED
Tiwi Creation, May 2022, Cooee Art | Redfern
ARTIST PROFILE
