Australian Art Collective – Art for Everyone | Australian Aboriginal Art Gallery

Thomas Munkanome

Ironwood Carving | Ochre

70 x 13 x 13 cm | 24127S

$1150 AUD

Cockatoo

The Black Cockatoo is an unmistakable and majestic presence in the Australian outback. A symbol of change, insight, and transition, it heralds the coming of rain and is seen as a messenger of spiritual transformation. Within Tiwi culture, these birds are deeply respected—believed to guide the spirits of loved ones on their journey to rest among the Ancestors.

This stunning sculpture by Tiwi artist Thomas Munkanome brings the spirit of the Black Cockatoo to life through bold form and delicate detail. Hand-carved from ironwood and painted with natural ochres, each bird embodies a sense of strength, wisdom, and character. The sweeping crest and intricate Jilamara (body painting designs) on the wings echo Tiwi ceremonial traditions and deep cultural knowledge.

In Tiwi storytelling, birds such as these are often associated with Tokampini—ancestral spirit-beings who witnessed and shaped the Dreaming. They acted as messengers, mourners, informers, and lawmakers, playing essential roles in the great creation narrative of the Tiwi people.

Each piece by Munkanome is a unique fusion of nature and culture—radiating life, memory, and ancestral presence. His Black Cockatoos are more than artworks; they are guardians in sculptural form, honouring Tiwi identity and the enduring voice of Country.