Timothy COOK

born 1958, Melville Island
lives and works Milikapiti, Melville Island
Skin name: House Fly
Language group: Tiwi

On Australia’s Tiwi Islands the art of body painting for ceremonial purposes has been practiced for thousands of years and the traditional forms of mark-making were derived from the creation story.  All Jilamara, (traditional Tiwi design), is drawn from body painting which accompanies various cultural ceremonies.

Cook paints in a free, loose and gestural style that is particularly reminiscent of several elder Tiwi artists who have been his mentors. These include Mary Magdalene (whose artwork was purchased for the Murdoch University Art Collection in 2007) and the late Kitty Kantilla.
 
The artist’s use of bold lines, shapes and circles, as well as his ability to generate movement through the thick application of natural ochres, produces the striking free-flowing paintings for which he is now recognised.
 
Cook’s works are emotionally charged and although they appear to be free flowing, the structural composition of these paintings is not created by chance. Cook has a very well developed understanding of structure and formality in the placement of lines and shapes within his painting. This untitled painting is a perfect balance of these two qualities.

Other selected artwork acquisitions