ROBERT TOMMY PAU | 'Swimming at Tamwoy Wharf' | Linocut

Linocut printed in black ink from one block

Edition of 10, 2013

Paper size: 565 x 760mm

Printed by Elizabeth Hunter

Artwork story: Tamwoy wharf is an historical wharf for quarantine patient in the past. It was a place where we would learn correct hook, line weigh, how to fish for bigger fish and wake up early, to catch the bite. The wharf was a place where we would fish in the morning and there would be fish, sardines, squids and sharks running around chasing each other, and the bite stops we would swim in the same water where a while ago was swarming with sharks.

 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.