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$4,032 (tax inc.)
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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. Ochre is applied to the body and face. These significant artistic designs collectively are called ‘Jilamara’. This painting is one of a few works by Natalie that has been painted free hand – no use of the pwoja (ironwood comb). Her grandmother, the late Jean Baptiste Apuatimi, was close by as she painted this. It’s Jean’s body paint design for the funeral of an old man. The dotting is the design that the men would paint up with, the cross hatching was for the women. The striping represents flowing water that the widow would wash herself in before presenting herself to her next man! The use of pink ochre shows Natalie’s connection with her grandmother.
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