Brian Farmer Illortaminni - Nomad Art

Artist: Brian Farmer Illortaminni
Art Centre: Jilamara Arts and Crafts
Region: Tiwi Islands

Artwork Story

Brian lived in central Australia doing a teacher’s course in the 1980s and then became a teacher’s aide at the Milikapiti school on the Tiwi Islands. Brian regularly painted for Kulama ceremonies as a young man.

“Sometimes there is a story there that I follow through to keep the memories alive. It is written in paintings but now young people are not interested – too much video and television. Like a journey of growing up going through all them stages to manhood – initiations. So body design is abstract design which is literally translated from ceremony, but also represents a person’s journey through life. No good wasting a bit of wisdom when I go, it’s not learnt by young people, not even in the back of their heads, so it is important it is written.” Brian Farmer Illortamini