Black Bamboo: Contemporary Furniture Design from Mer, Torres Strait
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A First Nations art exhibition brought to you by The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia.
From NGV Australia:
Black Bamboo: Contemporary Furniture Design From Mer, Torres Strait combines traditional craft and collaborative contemporary design in a display of bamboo furniture designed by artists from the Island of Mer at the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia from 13 September 2019 – 5 April 2020.
Also known as Murray Island, Mer is one of the most eastern islands in the Torres Strait and is home to a native species of bamboo, known in Meriam language as marep, and colloquially in English as black bamboo. This display tells a unique story about life in the Torres Strait by reimagining cultural stories in contemporary furniture designs through the use of native bamboo.
The furniture collection includes four large cabinets inspired by traditional Meriam dance masks: Arti shares the story of an octopus figure who symbolises harmony among the eight tribes of Mer, Koki represents the North-Westerly wind that blows through the Torres Strait, Gepi pays homage to the relationship Meriam people have with the sardine and the sea, and Ebur Peris Peris symbolises Deumer the Torres Strait pigeon.
Combining traditional bamboo construction and up-cycled materials, two seating designs, Sik Utem, daybed and Amirr Bau Chair, arm chair, are accompanied by vividly painted cushions made from hessian bags representing the traditional trade relationships between Torres Strait Islanders and people from Papua New Guinea.
Entry is free.
Members of the Marep Pamle include James Blanco, Kalina Day, Helen Dick, Dulcie Gibas, Bobby Kaigey Snr, Mary Kaigey, Robert Meddy Kaigey, Helen Mabo, Alick Passi, Andrew Passi Snr, Andrew Passi Jnr, Nellie Passi, Taukie Passi, Zane Sailor, Clay Sambo, John Tabo, Sabu Tabo, and Reteah Tapim.
Black Bamboo: Contemporary Furniture Design From Mer, Torres Strait is a shared curatorial initiative between the National Gallery of Victoria, Cairns Art Gallery and Gab Titui Cultural Centre, with the support of Mer Gedkem Le (Torres Strait Islanders) Corporation RNTBC. More information can be found on the NGV website.