Alick Tipoti
Alick Tipoti is guided by the spiritual traditional cultural practices of his people, the Maluyligal of Zenadh Kes (Torres Strait). He is fluent in both the Kala Lagaw Ya and Kala Kawaw Ya dialects in the Maluyligaw Ya. Alick believes that language is the core of all cultures in the world today, and that song, dance and the visual arts all evolve from the centrepiece of language. Alick’s people call him Zugub. A name for the tall spiritual ancestors of the past who are able to control weather patterns and transform themselves into anything they desire.
Being spiritual he is able to connect with the Zugubal who have instructed him on the proper ways of his cultural traditions and who have guided him in interpreting their words into his art practice. Cultural knowledge has been passed down through many stories and cultural protocols from his elders. This and a tertiary art education has enabled Alick to create the linocuts and sculptures that have helped contribute to the recent contemporary revival of Torres Strait Islander art.
The eight metre linocut titled ‘Girelal’, that was exhibited in the 2012 Sydney Biennale, is typical of Alick’s work. ‘Girelal’ translates as dances. It shows the cultural connection between the physical and the spiritual worlds and depicts the stages and sequences of traditional chants and some of the totems and stories Torres Strait Islanders dance about.
As his is an oral culture he shows the teachings through singing and dancing from the spirits to the elders to the youth and back to the spirits, which is a spiritual teaching cycle only few can understand.
Alick comes from a line of dance masters and choreographers so he must therefore continue his tradition. With the blessing of his elders and cultural mentors, he has composed and choreographed chants, not sacred, but spiritual, that have been performed in association with a number of his recent exhibitions.
The artwork below was featured in the Indigenous Law Bulletin July/August, 2012 Volume 8 Issue 2.
