Context (CMS Context)
Billy Missi, (c.1970- 2012) was born on Moa Island. His artist's biography notes ' "I first became interested in art when I saw a display of paintings done by local Torres Strait Islander artists in 1992. I was so inspired that I wanted to do the same, but, having a family to support, I had to continue crayfishing as I needed a regular income. So making art had to wait although deeply inside of me I really wanted to express my traditional culture through art inlcuding dancing and singing which are also a part of our culture. Later when I met Dennis Nona and saw his beautiful prints, I was encouraged to give up diving full time and study under him in our local TAFE program. Together we established a printmaking workshop, called the Mualgau Minnaral Art Centre through the Kubin Community Council on my island, Moa."

Billy Missi's print 'Dhangal Um Araik' was highly commended in the Lin Onus Youth Award 2000, part of Australia's premier Indigenous Heritage Art Award.
.... He is inspired by his cultural heritage and traditions and expresses a deep concern for the Torres Strait environment.' Taken from http://www.aboriginalartprints.com.au/indigenous_artists_details.php?artist_id=76
Event Date 7/3/2014
Author: Rachel Hand

Context (CMS Context)
Presented by The Art Fund and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. An acquisition project to build a collection of modern and contemporary work on paper from Australia, Canada and South Africa was undertaken over 2011-13 with the support of a grant under The Art Fund's RENEW programme. The collection was developed with the expert advice and generous assistance of Annie Coombes and Norman Vorano in relation to South African and Inuit artists respectively. Khadija Carroll, Anita Herle and Diana Wood Conroy also contributed to the selection process. Obtained from The Australian Art Print Network (Sydney Gallery, 68 Oxford St, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia).

Billy Missi wrote 'The purpose of creating this image is to depict the beauty of Zenadh Kes (Torres Strait) which is known for its wonderful seascape of reefs within local habitats and a diverse ecosystem that works around the phases of the moon. The tide flows east from the Arafura Sea to the Coral Sea which we call Guthath in Kala Lagaw Ya (Western Torres Strait language).
When the tide flows west, pushed by the strong South Easterly Trade winds causing a turbulent ring tide, this is known to our people as Kulis.
This image shows that during the time when the reefs are dry and the tide rips between them, the green turtles are buffered and gasp for air, just managing to stay afloat, as they drift through the channels until finding shelter away from the tide at a back draft behind a reef. This is a common sight during certain moons, revealing to us the beauty we observe with pride, of our natural wilderness between the two great land masses, of Papua New Guinea to the north and mainland Australia to the south.' Taken from http://www.aboriginalartprints.com.au/works_enlargement.php?work_id=1046
Event Date 7/3/2014
Author: maa

Description (CMS Description)
Vinyl-cut by Billy Missi, titled 'Kulis Nu Strong Westerly Tide 2009.' 2009. Not numbered- Edition 60. Condition: excellent
Event Date 7/3/2014
Author: maa