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

ROBERT TOMMY PAU, 'Chester', 2021, linocut on somerset velvet white 300gsm 100% cotton, 59.5 x 78.5 cm 

"This is a portrait of Henry Chester. He believed in Islander self governance by setting up the Island Council in 1877. This was the direct result of the theocracy that the London Missionary Missionaries instill and install since 1871. Chester saw that the islands were well organize and instituted a civic government beside the church government that were already established."

Courtesy of the artist.

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.