ROBERT TOMMY PAU | 'Kara Wali' | 2021 | Painting

ROBERT TOMMY PAU, 'Kara Wali', 2021, Acrylic on canvas, 61 x 76.2 cm 

"This 3 metre material is the formal attire of Islander man. It was his pants, his blanket, his towel, his dance costume and everyday wear."

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.