21

TIMOTHY COOK (HOUSE-FLY) (born 1958)
Natural Ochres on canvas
56 x 49 cm

All jilamara (design) are originally drawn from the body painting which
accompanied the pukumani (funeral) and kulama (initiation/yam) ceremonies. All
the artists living at Milikapiti are drawing on collective Tiwi memory, and the
individual expression and aesthetic qualities of each artist’s work is reflective of
their personal interpretation of traditional Tiwi design or jilamara.

PROVENANCE
Jilamara Arts and Crafts, Winnellie, Northern Territory, painted in Milikapiti
(Snake Bay), Melville Island, 2003, Certificate number 388/03
Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs

Timothy Cook was born into the House-Fly skin group of the Tiwi people in 1958
at Milikapiti, Melville Island, about 80 kilometres north of Darwin across the
Dundas Strait. His murrakapupuni (country) is centred on Goose Creek. Cook is
one of the leading practitioners amongst a group of younger generation emerging
Tiwi artists who are rapidly gaining acclaim. Cook continues the Tiwi tradition of
jilamara painting, and is recognised for his own distinctive style, which is broad
and energetic. He has participated in several group exhibitions around Australia
since 1997, including Darwin, Melbourne, Alice Springs and Perth and has held
solo exhibitions in Sydney since 2002.

REPRESENTED
National Gallery of Australia
National Gallery of Victoria
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Laverty Collection