Jane Puautjimi, No Picture Currently Available for Jane Puautjimi

For the Tiwi people of Bathurst and Melville Islands, Pukumani means "taboo" and is associated with the funeral ceremonies of an individual, involving the possessions of the deceased, the close relatives of the deceased, and the gravesite. The Pukumani ceremony takes place two to six months after burial and can last for a few days. Dancers circle around and through the formation of the funerial poles. To mark the end of the ceremony, Tungas, or painted bark baskets, are placed on top of the posts to encourage the departed spirit from returning. The burial Pukumani poles are gifts to please the spirits of the dead and are placed around the grave and left to decay. Jane Puautjimi's Tunga is richly decorated in customary Tiwi patterns.

USD $1200

Jane Puautjimi is an artist working out of Nguiu, Bathurst Island in the extreme northern part of Australia.