Artist:
Pedro Wonaeamirri
As a clan leader for my family I have a big responsibility, taking control of my land or Country of my father and grandfather.
Nginingilawa Jilamara is my design that no one else will use or copy. It’s like singing and dancing that no other clan or tribe can use for their own purpose. Traditional Tiwi colours, yellow, red, white ochre and black are important to me. The yellow ochre we burn to make red and the white is separate, collected from the beach. The black we use charcoal from the fire. Jilamara Arts and Crafts Association, where I work here at Milikapiti, also provides special black gesso for the backgrounds.
The lines of the brush represent the miyinga [scarification] and the dots from the pwoja comb represent yirrikiripwoja [body painting] and it all comes together to disguise me from bad spirit. The Jilamara design comes from me as a Tiwi person. Singing and dancing forms who we are as Tiwi and performing at smoking, funeral and Pukamani ceremonies is really important. The Kulama ceremony is also a significant ceremony. We sing about our land or Country of the food we collect. Singing about the names of our nieces and nephews. Singing and dancing is important to me as there are no Elders left to carry on my culture.
As an artist I am not just painting on canvas, paper or bark or printmaking or carving sculptures from ironwood, I also dance and sing for special ceremonies. When painted up, I use natural ochre for smoking, funeral, Pukumani and Kulama ceremony. It’s very important that we keep and hold onto our culture and law.
Photo: Seamus Kelly/Jilamara Arts and Crafts Association
Pedro Wonaeamirri
(Tiwi people)
Jilamara 2014
Purchased 2014. This acquisition has been supported by Ray Wilson in memory of James Agapitos, and in recognition of the 50th Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum.
Pedro Wonaeamirri
(Tiwi people)
Jilamara 2014
Purchased 2016 with the support of Ray Wilson in memory of James Agapitos, and in recognition of the 50th Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum.
Search for works by this artist in the national collection.
Pedro Wonaeamirri (Tiwi people)
