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James Eseli
1929-2009
Person TypeIndividual
Terms
BiographyJames Eseli was a well-known chorographer and dance mask creator who was born on Badu Island (Mulgrave Island). Eseli was of the many Torres Strait Islander children taken from their home islands to the safety of Waiben Island (Thursday Island) during World War II. This experience had an impact on the artist which can be seen in some of his works. In particular Eseli drew on his experiences during the Second World War when he choreographed his aeroplane dance. This dance features distinctive headdresses of Bombers and fighter planes taking off from Nurupai (Horn Island) on their way to Japanese targets in New Guinea. He was particular well known for these distinctive aeroplane headdresses as well as his Ubirikubiri (Crocodile) headdresses.
