The wira is a smaller version of the piti or wooden bowl which is a traditional woman’s carrying vessel for food and water. It is used in many ways including as a ladle for collecting water and for digging with.
As most contemporary Maruku artists use walka, patterns burnt into the wood with wire heated on a wood fire to relate Tjukurpa, stories about the Tjukuritja or Creation Ancestors and the activities which shaped the land, the people and their Law.
Details
Artist: Calandra Foster
Language Group: Yankunytjatjarra
Location: Titjikala, Northern Territory
Medium:Acrylic paint on 'ininti' Bat Wing Coral Tree or Red Beantree, Erythrina vespertilio.
dimensions (mm): 407 x 190 x 86mm
weight: 0.5kg
