Linus WARLAPINNI

born 1951, Melville Island
lives and works Melville Island
Skin name: Mosquito
Language group: Tiwi

On Australia’s Tiwi Islands the art of body painting for ceremonial cultural purposes has been practiced for thousands of years and the traditional forms of mark-making are derived from the creation story.
 
All Jilamara, (traditional Tiwi design), is drawn from the body painting which accompanies the Pukumani (funeral) and Kulama (initiation/yam) ceremonies.  All artists use a simple three colour organic palette of – natural white, yellow  and red ochre.
 
Linus Warlapinni’s works are characterised by his delicate layering of ochres.  His art like all the other Tiwi artists is based on Jilamara - which does not have a narrative.

This untitled work is a great example of how repeatitious patterning can create a striking geometric composition.

Other selected artwork acquisitions