The Tiwi Islands, located north of Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia, are home to a rich tapestry of cultural practices and artistic expressions. Tiwi art serves as a vibrant reflection of the cultural identity of the Tiwi people, deeply intertwined with their traditions and spiritual practices. Characterised by its distinctive bold colours, intricate patterns, and symbols, Tiwi art transcends aesthetics, offering a pictorial language through which ancestral stories and ceremonial significance are communicated as a joyous form of visual music.

There is a distinct ‘Tiwi-ness’ to art from this region; it is unlike any art on earth. The blending of natural ochres (yellow, orange, red, brown), sourced directly from the lands and waterways of Melville and Bathurst Islands, creates a unique texture that fosters a deep connection to Country. Tiwi art embodies the Tiwi community’s collective memories, bringing together narratives of kinship, spirituality, and the rhythmic cycles of life and death on the islands. It is a celebration of the past that has evolved with contemporary influences, ensuring that Tiwi culture remains internationally relevant and vibrant within today’s world.

Beneath the watchful gaze of the moon, ancestral stories can be heard through the night and day, sharing tales of both memory and light. For over twenty years, Timothy Cook has painted the Kulama, a Tiwi coming-of-age ceremony that coincides with the late wet season, the yam harvest and a halo of light around the moon. This three-day event unfolds on a ground prepared in concentric circles, serving as a profound ceremony of knowledge where yams are cooked, stories are exchanged, and songs and dances are shared.

Without question, Timothy Cook stands as a leader in contemporary Tiwi art. His work navigates various mediums, including body art, carved pukumani mortuary poles, Tunga (painted bark baskets), and canvas. His work draws heavily on the visual language of jilamara, ceremonial body-painting traditions characterised by circles, dots, and ochre lines that are central to Tiwi culture. Through his practice, Cook both preserves traditional designs and adapts them for modern contexts, ensuring that the essence of Tiwi culture is maintained while also engaging with contemporary artistic dialogues.

Timothy Cook. Photograph: Gus Davidson

This exhibition, showcases new works that explore Cook’s kurluwukari, or circle, motif, ranging from intimate studies to monumental pieces on stringybark and linen. As Cook’s inaugural solo exhibition on the traditional lands of the Lenape people in New York, it places his practice within an international framework, emphasising his connection to locally sourced ochres and materials from Jilamara Arts and Crafts in Milikapiti on Melville Island, as well as his deep relationship with both Country and ceremony.

For Cook, Kulama serves as the cornerstone of his cultural, spiritual, and artistic expression. He articulates that Kulama embodies culture, yam, and ceremony. Speaking of his work, he says simply, ‘We teach culture.’ Each of Cook’s paintings represents his ongoing return to Kulama, showing the moon, yams, stars, initiation rites, dances, families, ancestors, Country, traditional Tiwi designs, as well as more recently introduced Christian beliefs. This repetition of iconography transforms his work into declarations of memory and connection, affirming and celebrating Tiwi identity.

Born in Milikapiti on Melville Island, Cook has woven an artistic narrative within the tapestry of his Ancestral homeland. His art is profoundly tied to his heritage, and as a proud member of the Jilamara Arts and Crafts Association, he began his artistic journey in the late 1990s. His works often incorporate circle and cross motifs. This creates a distinct visual language that resonates with the essence of Tiwi ceremonial practices. Through his art, Cook captures the core of Tiwi cultural rituals, breathing life into stories of Ancestral beings and infusing his work with a timeless quality that transcends generations.

In each of his evocative paintings, Cook employs ochre on canvas to depict the Kulama ceremony, narrating a ceremonial rite that unfolds during pakitiringa, or rain, and Jamutakari, or late wet season. This celebration aligns with the emergence of a celestial ring around the moon, coinciding with the yam harvest. Elders engage in a vibrant three-day festivity that features rhythmic singing and dancing, marking the initiation of young boys into adulthood. During this time, new adult names are bestowed, signifying their transition to manhood.

For Cook, circular forms converge to symbolise the moon, yam, and the ritualistic circular iconography intrinsic to the Kulama traditions. A prominent cross within the composition reflects the artist’s personal connection to his Christian faith, illustrating how he merges these spiritual dimensions within his work. The canvases are adorned with dots, representing the brilliance of stars and the cosmic threads that unite life with death across the Tiwi Islands. Each of these elements comes together to create a rich narrative that invites viewers to engage deeply with the cultural significance embedded in his custodianship of Country.

Timothy Cook painting. Photograph: Gus Davidson

Cook’s commitment to his art extends beyond representation; he embodies a bridge between the ancient and the contemporary. By employing traditional methods and materials, he ensures that the stories of his ancestors continue to resonate in today’s world. His art serves as a conduit through which the wisdom of the past is shared, allowing a new generation of Tiwi people to connect with their own cultural heritage, past, present, and future. As Cook continues to evolve in his artistic journey, he remains steadfast in his mission to honour the traditions of the Tiwi people while forging a path that is uniquely his own.

Through exhibitions like this one in New York, Cook not only brings Tiwi art to a broader audience but also fosters a greater understanding of its significance. He challenges us to consider the ways in which art can act as a vessel for cultural expression and identity. Each brushstroke and each pattern carries meaning, inviting contemplation and dialogue about the interconnectedness of culture, land, and community. As he presents this work on an international stage, Timothy Cook reaffirms the importance of cultural narratives in shaping both individual and collective identities.

Cook’s artistic practice is a testament to the resilience and vitality of Tiwi culture. By merging traditional motifs with contemporary themes, he not only preserves the rich heritage of the Tiwi people but also reinvigorates it for future generations. His works stand as a celebration of identity, a bridge between past and present, and a beacon of hope for the ongoing journey of cultural expression. As the moon illuminates the night sky, so too does Timothy Cook’s art shine brightly, guiding others toward a deeper understanding of the stories that shape us all.

Myles Russell-Cook

Artistic Director and CEO, The Australian Centre for Contemporary Art