Page 38 - Tropic Magazine Issue 18

TROPIC • COVER STORY

LANGUAGE OF ART

The concept of western art is relatively new to the Cape York
community of Pormpuraaw, however a supportive group
of emerging artists is growing. Pormpuraaw Art Centre
Manager Paul Jakobowski told Tropic art is considered a new
language which is being experimented with. “Pormpuraaw
languages do not have a word for art,” he said. Language
and culture come from country and are all one thing, it is
not something to be separated, qualified or turned into a
commodity. A work of art made on country is considered
to be part of that country and when it leaves to be displayed
elsewhere, a part of our country is leaving. Artists often shed Artwork made from ghost nets
a tear when they see a work of art going away.”
Among the upcoming, exciting artists from Pormpuraaw is
Syd Bruce Short Joe, who’s been working on a 3D piece that
resembles a window. “The work is designed for the viewer
to put his head in and take a look around,” Mr Jakobowski
said. “It was inspired by Syd visiting the Paris Aquarium and
looking into a fish tank through a curved glass window.”
Another piece to be featured at CIAF uses a recycled
trampoline as a base for a tapestry which celebrates totems
and connects country and sea.

Syd Bruce Short Joe

Artwork by Syd Bruce Short Joe

38 • Tropic • Issue 18