Susan Wanji Wanji
(born 1955)
KULAMA DESIGN, 2013
natural earth pigments on linen
122.5 x 152.5 cm
bears inscription verso: artist’s name, size and Mumupi Arts cat. 13SWW066
Estimate:
$2,500 - $3,500
Sold:
$1,830 (inc. BP)
lot details
Munupi Arts, Melville Island
The McKay Superannuation Fund Art Collection, Brisbane
Exhibited
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, 9 August 2013 – 10 November 2013
This work is accompanied by a certificate from Munupi Arts which states: ‘The kulama design depicts this important ceremony of the Tiwi people; the dancers and singers create a circle and prepare the poisonous yam for eating, as indicated by the circles in the painting. The Kulama ceremony was given to the Tiwi people by the Nyingawi, who are little spirit people (as depicted in Tiwi mythology). It is a celebration of life and food, occurring at the end of the wet season. The Tiwi know when to perform Kulama when the last full moon of the wet season has a yellow halo surrounding it, which tells them that Japarra (the moon man) is ready for it to begin.’


