Painting depicting decoartive motifs that are found on Tiwi baskets

View this record on the National Museum of Australia's website

Type: Bark paintings
Date: 1984
Place: Melville Island, Tiwi Islands, Northern Territory, Australia; Bathurst Island, Tiwi Islands, Northern Territory, Australia; Australian National University, Acton, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Materials: Bark, Pigment
Collection: Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies - Australian National University collection
Accession number: 1985.0001.0024

Description

Pigmented bark painting featuring a reptile, bird and turtle design with a circle and oblong band on dotted ground. There is a transverse band on the top and bottom of the painting. A zigzag line outlines the entire composition. The painting is attached to stretchers with a split cane binding.

This work was purchased from those displayed at an exhibition held at the Australian National University’s Burton Hall, from 8-19 May 1984. The exhibition was organised in conjunction with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies' biennial Conference in Canberra, titled Aboriginal Art in Contemporary Australia. The works came from art centres in the Northern Territory.

Read live from the Museum's Collection API (12/11/2026, 4:58:20 am). Record last updated by the Museum 2025-02-23. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.