KULAMA-YAM, 2000

Important Australian Indigenous Art
Melbourne
22 March 2023
19

JEAN BAPTISTE APUATIMI

(1940 - 2013)
KULAMA-YAM, 2000

natural earth pigments on canvas

121.5 x 121.5 cm

bears inscription verso: artist's name and Tiwi Design cat. TD2356-00

Estimate: 
$5,000 – $7,000
Sold for $8,591 (inc. BP) in Auction 73 - 22 March 2023, Melbourne
Provenance

Tiwi Design, Nguiu, Bathurst Island, Northern Territory
Private collection, United States of America
Deutscher and Hackett, Melbourne, 24 March 2010, lot 172
Private collection, Melbourne

This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Tiwi Design which states:

'My husband taught me to paint Kulama (Yam) all the time. He taught me how to paint. Kulama ceremony is very important to Tiwi. When finish rain we start Kulama. We used to have Kulama ceremonies at Munkarra Park in Nguiu. Kulama ceremony is good for health, good hunting, initiation and good marriage. We have this ceremony once a year. It lasts for three days. They give people Tiwi names, prepare Kulama yam and have lots of singing. It's important to Kulama.'