heide smith's photographs of Tiwi art & artists

about photographs of tiwi art and artists: Art is part of the way of life for the Tiwi and indeed for much of Aboriginal Australia. It has been reported that one in every seven Aboriginal adults in the Northern Territory is a productive artist. Tiwi artist’s can be seen in Australia’s National Gallery, in many of the State Galleries, indeed in major art galleries around the world. Because of the isolation of the Tiwi, Tiwi art is distinctly different, even from their neighbours in Arnhem Land. Tiwi carvers still carry on the traditions of their ancestors, making their unique Pukumani Poles, while weavers produce bark baskets called Tungas, which are also unique to the Tiwi. There are art galleries and workshops on both islands, and portraits of many Tiwi artists can be seen in this gallery.

To see an enlargement, and/or to purchase an image, click on a thumbnail

viewers should be aware this collection contains references to, and images of deceased people