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Pukamani pole

1999

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

79 15/16 in. (203 cm)

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

Not currently on view

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Sorry Business, July 30, 2001 - January 2, 2006

Seattle Art Museum respectfully acknowledges that we are on Indigenous land, the traditional territories of the Coast Salish people. We honor our ongoing connection to these communities past, present, and future.

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