Karina Coombes
Karina’s language is Tiwi and she was born in 1982. Her work has been exhibited throughout Australia in various group exhibitions of Tiwi Art. Karina’s father came from the South Island of New Zealand, and her mother’s country is Munupi on Melville Island, where Karina was born and has lived to this day. Her grandfather (who became a famous artist later in life) guided her artistic career when she started painting in mid-2010 giving advice on what she could correctly portray through her Tiwi family ties. She has since progressed from painting Takaringa, and her Dreaming, Jarrikalani (the turtle) to painting the various incarnations of the night sky as it appears over the Tiwi Islands.
Tiwi people identify by dance (whereas Aboriginal people identify by language group) and these ceremonies were essential to pass on crucial survival information to the next generation. For example the turtle dance tells people in its actions and in the accompanying song, how to find the turtle, how to catch it, prepare it and cook it and share it. You are responsible for ensuring people conduct the ceremonies with this dance if it is your dance.
Images and text courtesy of Munupi Arts (Melville Island) and Tali Gallery (Sydney).
