Nathan Pilakui

Nathan Pilakui grew up in Milikapiti. As an adult he moved to the larger community of Wurrumiyanga on Bathurst Island to work. After starting a large family he has now moved back to Melville Island and is now working at Jilamara Arts and Crafts Association. He spends most of his time in Jilamara’s Murrunungumirri wood carving workshop making ironwood Tjurukukuni (owls) and Tokwanpini (birds) which have long been considered messengers in Tiwi culture and an important part of the creation stories. Like all artists at JIlamara, Nathan creates designs using locally sourced ochres from Country to paint.