Gabau Mabaig

DateApril 2007

Object number00056346

NameLinocut

MediumPaper, ink

DimensionsOverall: 561 × 381 mm
Image: 306 × 145 mm

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Michael Kershaw

Terms

DescriptionEntitled Gabau Mabaig, this linocut is by contemporary Torres Strait Islander artist David Bosun. Born on Moa Island, he is a member of the Wug tribe and today is a senior artist at Moa Arts and one of the founders of printmaking in Zenadh Kes - Torres Strait. For Bosun, his drawings, paintings and prints are the means of communicating his community’s rich cultural heritage, ‘Future generations … need to be educated about the rich cultural heritage and distinctiveness of Mualgal culture. This is what I do in my own work, by bringing the aesthetic and personal qualities of the artwork together with my ancestral beliefs and Mualgal cultural traditions’.SignificanceTorres Strait artists have developed a unique style of printmaking, drawing on their rich cultural traditions and beliefs. Born on Moa Island, David Bosun has played a key role in the promotion of printmaking. Importantly, he has also recognised its potential to educate future generations about the rich cultural heritage and distinctiveness of Mualgal culture. This work is a fine example of the subject matter and approach taken by Bosun.

The print's provenance to the Michael Kershaw collection further adds to its significance as, in his position as managing director of the Australian Art Network, he has been responsible for the development and promotion of Indigenous art for over 25 years. Through the publication and distribution of fine art prints by First Nations artists, Kershaw has contributed to broader recognition of their work in Australia and internationally.