An understanding of Tiwi belief systems is important to understanding their art. Much of the art being produced by the artists relates to their interpretations of the Tiwi creation story and the first Pukumani ceremony.

According to the Tiwi people the Islands were created at the beginning of time during the Palaneri. Before this there was only darkness and the earth was flat. Murtankala, an old blind woman rose from the ground at Murupianga in the South East of Melville Island. She rose from the darkness of the underworld. Holding her three children she crawled on her knees travelling slowly North. The fresh water that bubbled up in the tracks she created became the creeks, waterholes and coastline of the Islands. She created light by throwing a handful of ochre into the sky. Murtankala decreed the bare land be covered with vegetation and inhabited with animals so that her children would have food when she left them behind. Murtankala then vanished.

Cyril James Kerinauia
Tiwi born 1966
Murtankala 2001
earthenware

In addition to the inspiration provided by the story of Murtankala and the creation of the Islands, Tiwi art and culture is informed by two important ceremonies – the Pukumani ceremony and the Kulama ceremony. While the Pukamani ceremony has death as its focus the Kulama ceremony is about initiation and the sustaining of life. A number of works in the exhibition are interpretations of the key protagonists in this first Pukumani ceremony.