Declan Apuatimi was a pioneering Tiwi artist born at Iminulapi on Bathurst Island. Later, after settling in Nguiu he traced his heritage to Munupi, his father’s Country on Melville Island. A saltwater person, Declan worked on Japanese, Malay and Filipino pearling boats until World War II, when he relocated to Darwin’s RAAF base. He returned to Bathurst Island post-war and married Jeanne Baptiste, with whom he raised ten children, though only six survived, a profound loss commemorated in his performances at Pukumani (funerary) ceremonies. A master woodcarver, Declan specialised in tutini (burial posts), integrating geometric patterns and innovative figurative designs. With the encouragement of missionaries, he first began carving works for sale in the 1950s and gained recognition for his work in the 1970s. Declan's haunting interpretation of Purrukuparli – mouth agape, with a vacant stare – captures his despair upon learning of the death of his son, Jinani. Purrukuparli stands decorated with jilamara (designs) that continue to be worn by Tiwi ceremonial performers. Replete with black cockatoo feathers and male sexual organs (which would occasionally be included on sculptures during this period) his shapely chest, torso and face are divided into partitions of fine yellow and white dotting. The arms, legs and back of the head are decorated with parallel striated patterning against his black ‘skin’.