Two men hunting a dugong

Artist Bede Tungutalum (born 1952)

Date1987

Object number00004616

NameLinocut

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsSheet: 595 x 841 mm
Image: 461 x 452 mm
Overall: 594 x 841 mm, 1 mm, 0.1 kg

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionThis black and white block print by the Tiwi Islander artist, Bede (Ampuruwaiuah) Tungutalum depicts two men in a canoe on a fishing trip. As one man steers, the other man can be seen spearing a dugong in the foreground. Dugong hunting is an important traditional practice in the Tiwi Islands.HistorySenior Tiwi artist Bede Tungutalum is a painter, carver and printmaker and one of the founders of Tiwi Designs the renowned Indigenous screen printing business based on Bathurst Island. His work has been exhibited widely across Australia and he has undertaken artist residencies in Canada and New Zealand. His work is held in major public collections throughout Australia including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney; National Maritime Museum, Sydney; Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth; National Gallery of Australia, Canberra; National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne; and Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane.SignificanceDepicts the traditional practice of Dugong hunting.