Untitled (Pukumani ceremony)

Artist Kitty Kantilla (1928-2003)

Date1995

Object number00018366

NamePainting

MediumOchre, lanaquerelle paper

Dimensions762 x 565 mm, 0.3 kg
Sheet: 762 x 565 mm
Display Dimensions: 764 x 573 mm

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection

Terms

DescriptionAn untitled painting by Kitty Kantilla / Kutuwalumi Purawarrumpatu influenced by the Pukumani ceremony. Kitty Kantilla was an elder of her homeland Yimpinari which is situated at Milikapiti, Melville Island. Kitty remembered her family conducting Pukamani ceremonies as a child and these memories of past pukamani ceremonies influenced her painting.The Pukumani is the traditional Tiwi burial ceremony and a significant part of Tiwi traditional and spiritual beliefs. Skin: Anjiluwi (Rain) Country: Yimpinari Dance: Marntipani (Seagull)HistoryKitty once said of her art, “The jilamara that I do, it’s my father’s design. I watched him as young girl and I’ve still got design in my head. As a young girl, when my sister passed away, I watched him. When he died, I did the same design, right through Nguiu [Paru], I kept painting. When my husband died in Adelaide, they wanted to give me a widow’s pension but I said, ‘No, I’ll work, make jilamara, carving, make my own living’. Right through all the way, working everyday! When we gathered logs for carving, there was no transport! We carried them on our shoulder, walking, having a rest, walking a long way, heavy work. We worked at home [Paru], with no chainsaws, just tomahawk, carving, hard work. Then we would take the carvings by canoe, paddling across to Nguiu to sell them.” SignificanceTiwi art is uniquely different from the mainland art and developed independently over thousands of years and influenced by its marine environment. With no written language, the history and culture, story and law have been handed down from generation to generation via song, story, totem design, sculpture and dance.