Karnamarr (Red Tailed Black Cockatoo)
This piece was carved by Harold Goodman and painted by Irene Henry. Irene and Harold are partners that live at the Kakadu Outstation of Kapalga. Irene’s family are from Tiwi islands, which are represented through her artistic narrative of painting.
“My cousin brother, Sebastian, used to make bird’s. Roy’s dad used to make the Jabiru bird. Then Harold got the idea of doing Cockatoo. The Black Cockatoo plays an important role in Tiwi ceremony… Harold has to look at the tree first to see if it’s strong enough [for carving], you can tell when that stringy bark peels off, then you can see if it’s right to cut it and do carving.” – Irene Henry
“The baby Cockatoos, they always sitting on a tree, on the branch. Because thats what they do. The mother flies off and leaves the babies in the hollow log. So you can tell which carving is a baby one”- Rhonda Henry
This artwork has been sold.