Performative Prints
April 2013
The Arts Centre’s Performative Prints from the Torres Strait exhibition celebrates the expression of an ancient culture on paper and through performance, fusing contemporary and customary art.
Inspired by the forefathers of their society, artists Alick Tipoti, Ricardo Idagi and Brian Robinson create lino prints, large scale masks, headdresses and sculptures. Each instils in their art a deep understanding of their lineage, traditions and native tongue. This sense of heritage is paired with an enthusiasm to revive traditional art and performance practices in modern day Island communities.
Robinson and Tipoti hand-cut a fusion of old stories and modern life into lino creating detailed prints, maintaining a great amount of texture. Through this technique they manage to create scenes from a traditional profile or aerial view without figures feeling flat or stagnant. A consistent theme across their print work is the depiction of movement. Whether it is a scene of dancers’ feet or turtles in a stream, there is a flow that is inherently theatrical which resonates across both artists’ work.
Figures are often depicted mid-song; dance and the art of performance is thematically woven through the exhibition. Several sculptural pieces are able to transform from finely carved wall hangings to performance props. Naturally then, the still works of the exhibition have been paired with Torres Strait performing arts.
The performance aspects of the artworks culminated in a performance at the Arts Centre, which launched the exhibition earlier this month.
The Badu Island Zugubal Traditional Dancers were invited to dress in traditional garb and bring the dances depicted in Tipoti’s prints out from the page, merging visual and performance arts.
Tipoti – who created masks for the Badu Island Dancers – also performed and sang in his native language in an artistic amalgamation that is a step towards the restoration and preservation of their cultural practices.
Reworking traditional masks and carving spiritual dances into lino are forms of artistic engagement, which ignite the energy of Torres Strait Island performance. With Performative Prints the Arts Centre Melbourne has taken the vitality inherent in the work of these three artists and turned it into a dynamic and interactive live art exhibition.
Performative Prints from the Torres Strait: Prints and sculptures are on display until June 23 at the Arts Centre Melbourne, Gallery 1.
Images:
1. Brian Robinson – …And on the 6th day He created man 2010
2. Alick Tipoti – Ngay 2009
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