artist – Alana Papajua

community – Munupi Art (Tiwi Islands)

title: Jilamara Design

dimensions: 80 x 50cm
medium: ochre on canvas
code: 640

stretched: yes

This artwork can be viewed at our Noosa gallery.

about: 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 the different natural ochre colours in varying designs, transforming 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 artistic designs are collectively called “Jilamara”. The artist here has painted a Jilamara design.