Pukamani pole
1999
John Wilson
Australian Aboriginal, Tiwi Islands, Melville Island, born 1955
John Wilson describes this figure as: "A man painted up for pukamani ceremony for a close relative, maybe an aunt or uncle. He's got to take a big part in the ceremony; he'll be performing, dancing and singing. He will be paying the funeral workers [in-laws not related to the deceased] for making shade shelters for the dancing, and for [carving and painting] the pukumani poles."
Natural pigments with fixative on ironwood
Gift of Margaret Levi and Robert Kaplan, in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Seattle Art Museum
2005.156
Provenance: [Jilamara Arts & Crafts Association, Winnellie, Australia]; Margaret Levi and Robert Kaplan, Seattle, Washington, 2000