Images(2)

Seu

Date2017

Object number00055282

NameSculpture

MediumGhost net (reclaimed fishing net and rope), polypropylene, rope and twine, steel frame

DimensionsOverall: 320 × 1440 × 1110 mm, 7160 g

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection purchased by the ANMM Foundation with the assistance of Sid Faithfull and Christine Sadler Program supporting Contemporary Indigenous Maritime Heritage in Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait

Terms

DescriptionSeu (large male turtle) made by Erub artists Solomon Charlie, Racy Oui-Pitt, Nancy Naawi, Lorenzo Ketchell, Lavinia Ketchell, Jimmy John Thaiday, Florence Gutchen, Ethel Charlie, Emma Gela, Ellarose Savage and Jimmy Kenny Thaiday from Darnley Island in the Torres Strait using ghost-net. Ghost-nets are nets discarded by fisherman at sea that continue to float, often entangling turtles, dugong and other marine animals, before washing up on the shore. In northern Australia where the problem is acute, local artists are using ghost-nets as a medium for highlighting the problem, creating stunning works of animals caught in the nets and works that reflect cultural stories and ways of life in the Torres Strait Islands. HistoryArtist's Statement: "Seu and Pere are a pair of mating turtles named after a close by sand cay and reef. Seu sand cay is a popular place for families to visit for picnics and swimming. Pere reef is separated from Seu by a lagoon. Just like these two turtles, they are together but also two separate. Pere is good for fishing and diving. From the hillsides of Erub you can see Seu clearly on the low tide as the sand stretches out to the reefs. The turtle is significant to the people of Erub both as a tribal totem and it is also a traditional source of food for feastings and celebrations.Turtles are large animals and feed many people so it is also important that we look after the ocean and raise the awareness of marine debris such as ghostnets . We must respect the ocean because we need to make sure that we have turtles for the future. We only take what we need." - Erub Erwer Meta Arts Centre, Erub Erwer Meta Torres Strait Islander Corporation.SignificanceUsing a cross-cultural and collaborative model Erub Arts is leading the way in large sculptural forms constructed using Ghost Net, producing woven, wrapped and twined statements about traditional and contemporary island life.