Tiwi (tribe)
The Tiwi tribe of Aborigines living on the Bathurst Iceland and the Melville Iceland , which separated from mainland Australia about 100 kilometers north of Darwin are. Bathurst and Melville Island, collectively known as the Tiwi Islands , are tropical islands home to 2500 Tiwis who speak their own language.
Culture
art
Tiwi art and the Tiwi language were influenced by the nearby Arnhem Land . The Tiwi tribe developed independently in relative isolation due to the approximately 100 kilometers distance to the mainland, but the influence of the art of the Arnhem Land made Tiwi art largely abstract and it shows a wealth of geometrical forms. The paintings are colorful and strongly patterned. In addition to the production of sculptures from wood, since around 1985 there has been an increasing number of painting on canvas, but also on paper, and screen prints , ceramics and batiks are also produced.
Sculptures of birds and animals from the Tiwis have been famous since the 1930s. More recently, the Tiwi Enrael Djubiyannas has been producing double-sided human sculptures that refer to the Tiwi's dream time . The double-sided figures rest on a round base, have a bulbous head and there is a closed opening between the legs and feet.
The Tiwi make carrying baskets from pieces of wood and bark sewn together, as well as painted spears and mourning ribbons for the arms and head. The Pamijini is a circular band with feather-trimmed tassels as a headband. Sculpture is a priority for the Tiwi as an art form, but the art depictions on bark panels are also popular with potential buyers. In 1972, the Tiwi Pottery craft center was founded, which produces pottery .
There are three major arts centers on the Tiwi Islands: Munupi Arts and Crafts Association at Pirlangimpi and Jilamara Arts and Crafts at Milikapiti on Melville Island, and on Bathurst Island the Tiwi Design at Nguiu . The settlement of Milikapiti, with a population of 400 people, has around 40 artists working at the Jilamara Art Center. Kitty Kantilla, Freda Warlapinni, Pedro Wonaeamirri, Leon Puruntatameri and Maryanne Mungatopi are famous artists of this place. 300 people live in Pirlangimpi with the Munupi art center, of whom the artists Reppie Orsto and Thecla Puruntatameri are known. Body painting has been widespread on the Tiwi Islands for thousands of years and it serves as a stimulus for artistic designs for the Tiwi artists, who today mainly produce paintings, textiles and sculptures for art exhibitions in Australia and overseas.
dance
Dance is an important part of the daily life of the Tiwi. The Tiwis learn the dance with their totems from their mother, and the dance themes change according to the occasion. Some dances also arise spontaneously and express the emotions of the dancers or they correspond to their ceremonies. The experiences of World War II , such as the bombing raids on Darwin, can also be found in the dances and songs of the Tiwi . Singing is always connected to their dance and new songs are constantly being created while dancing, whereby they paint their bodies with ocher . The body paintings can be found as patterns on her works of art.
hunt
Each settlement has a grocery store, but hunting, fishing and collecting traditional groceries are an important part of Tiwi's life. Hunting and cooking the prey is still an essential part of the lived culture. The production of traditional tools and hunting weapons in a cultural tradition has declined and the use of modern tools and weapons is increasingly coming to the fore.
language
The Tiwi language is spoken in Melville and Bathurst Islands, and English is taught in school as a second language. Tiwi is spoken in everyday life and recently the young Tiwi have had difficulties understanding the old language version of Tiwi because of the great influence of Western culture.
swell
Individual evidence
- ^ Wally Caruna: The art of the Aborigines (German edition). P. 88 f. Thames & Hudson. London 1999. ISBN 0500-950-512
- ↑ Wally Caruna: The Art of the Aborigines. Pp. 87/88
- ↑ Wally Caruna: The Art of the Aborigines. P. 93