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<< back to artist listing Timothy Akis Tsembaga Village, Madang Province,  biography by Pamela Rosi Timothy Akis (known as Akis) has the distinction of being Papua New Guinea's first exhibiting artist. He was born about 1944 in Tsembaga village in the remote Simbai valley of Madang Province. As a young man, while working as an interpreter for visiting anthropologist Georgeda Buchbinder, he began to identify local plants and animals by making small drawings. Impressed by this creativity, Buchbinder brought Akis to Port Moresby and introduced him to Australian artist Georgina Beier. She invited him to work in her studio and encouraged him to create images drawn from his imagination. Akis delighted in letting his hand flow spontaneously, and he quickly developed a lively repertoire of cassowaries, lizards, and other creatures inspired by the wild life of his mountain home. Six weeks later, he held his first exhibition at the University of Papua New Guinea. From 1969 until his premature death in 1984, Akis exhibited his work regularly at the National Arts School and it was also shown abroad in the USA, Great Britain, the Philippines, and Switzerland. Akis's earliest images are lively black and white drawings and limited print editions were made of this work. However, as his work developed, he also became interested in color and began to tell "stories" about his increasingly elaborate imagery. Akis's work has continued to be exhibited posthumously. In 1989, drawings from the Hugh Stevenson collection toured the Pacific in the Exhibition "Luk Luk Gen"; in 2001, his work was included in an exhibition of prints by leading indigenous artists from Australia and the South Pacific entitled "Islands in the Sun" at the National Gallery of Australia; and in 1990 several original drawings and prints were included in the exhibition "Mak Bilong Ol" shown at the University of Nijmegen and other venues in The Netherlands. Solo Exhibitions 1969- University of Papua New Guinea, drawings 1971- University of Papua New Guinea, drawings 1973- University of Papua New Guinea, Drawings of Akis of Tsembaga Goroka Teachers' College, drawings 1974- Papua New Guinea House, Canberra, drawings 1975- National Arts School Gallery, Ting Ting Bilong Mi, screenprints 1981- National Arts School, drawings and prints 1985- National Arts School, posthumous retrospective Group Exhibitions 1969- Alladin Gallery, Sydney, drawings 1970- University of Sussex, U.K., drawings; University of the South Pacific, Fiji, drawings; Otis Gallery, Los Angeles, U.S.A., Contemporary New Guinea Art 1971- Solidaridad Gallery, Manila, drawings 1973- Travelling Exhibition, Melbourne University, Adelaide University, Australian University, Adelaide University, Australian National University Canberra, Sydney University: Wok bilong Niugini Tude, screenprints; University of Papua New Guinea, Third Niugini Arts Festival Exhibition, drawings 1976- Print Council of Australia, Western Pacific Biennale, screenprints 1980- National Arts School, screenprints Posthumous Exhibition 1988- Australian Museum, Sydney, included in Pieces of Paradise Pieces by Timothy Akis: Warrior With His Two Sons 1985 view details Untitled circa 1985 view details Meri Wantaim Muruk Na Pikinini (Woman with Cassowary and Child) circa 1977 view details Pukpuk Meri Na Man I Gat Tupela Het (Crocodile Woman and Two-Headed Man) circa 1977 view details Man I Sutim Muruk (Man Shooting Cassowary) 1977 view details Doc (Dog) circa 1977 view details Man I Gat Bilas Long Yau (Man with Big Earrings) circa 1977 view details Man I Slip Wantaim Ol Samting Bilong Em (Dreaming Man; translation uncertain) 1977 view details Meri Wantaim Tripela Liklik Bilong Em (Woman with Her Three Little Ones) circa 1977 view details Man I Hait Namel Long Tupela Ston (Man Hiding Between Two Stones) circa 1977 view details Longpela Gras (Long Hair) circa 1977 view details Faipela Man Wantaim Ol Gaden Bilong Ol (Five Men in Their Garden) circa 1977 view details Wanpis (Alone) circa 1977 view details Sikin i pulap long nil 1977 view details Binatang (Insect) circa 1977 view details Longpela Gras (Long Hair) II 1977 view details Rat I Gat Longpela Lek (Long-Legged Rat) 1977 view details Muruk 1 (Cassowary 1) circa 1977 view details Palai (Gecko) circa 1977 view details Faipela Pikinini I Stap Long Bel Bilong Meri (Five Children in a Woman's Belly) circa 1977 view details Bilak Bokis (Flying Fox) 1977 view details Pukpuk I Kaikaim Kok Bilong Man (Crocodile Biting a Man's Penis) 1977 view details Tupela Kros (Angry Couple) 1977 view details

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