JILAMARA DESIGN

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by GLENDA FARMER

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Tiwi art - Melville Island

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• Natural pigments on Linen - year 2016

• 80cm x 30cm

• Catalogue number: 16-187
   

• $500.00 AUD

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During the ceremonies on the Tiwi Islands, a series of dances called YOI 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, the spirits.
These significant artistic designs can be applied in different ways and collectively are called JILAMARA.