ROBERT TOMMY PAU | '1877' | 2021 | Linocut print

ROBERT TOMMY PAU, '1877', 2021, linocut on somerset velvet white 300gsm 100% cotton, 54.7 x 78 cm 

"This print depicts the local government council that was setup by Henry Chester. Island chiefs were given indirect power as councillors to manage the affairs of their respective island community. A police force was created as well to uphold the council decision making authority."

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.