ROBERT TOMMY PAU | 'Thawi (Brother in Law)' | 2021 | Linocut print

ROBERT TOMMY PAU, 'Thawi (Brother in Law)', 2021, linocut on somerset velvet white 300gsm 100% cotton, 77.7 x 59.5cm

"This is a portrait of Mr. Bernard Namok designer of the Torres Strait flag. The Torres Strait flag was commissioned by the Island Coordinating Council (ICC) to distinctly identify Torres Strait Islanders (TSI) as one of the First Nation People of Australia."

Tommy is a descendant of the Eastern Torres Strait Islands, Australian Aboriginal, Papua New Guinea, Pacific Islander and Asia. He speaks Torres Strait Creole and Australian English. He was taught about the need to keep culture strong through cultural practice by his father. He has a strong commitment to keeping old traditions alive and believes that culture must remain true to the past and move with time to exist in the future. Tommy has considerable experience in the arts and his art forms of choice include printmaking, painting and sculpture.