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Alick Tipoti (born 1975), also known by his traditional name Zugub, is a famous Torres Strait Islander artist. He is also a linguist, which means he studies languages, and an activist who works for important causes. Alick comes from the Kala Lagaw Ya people on Badu Island in the Zenadh Kes (Torres Strait). His art includes paintings, sculptures, and even making masks. He focuses on keeping his people's culture and languages alive for future generations.

Early Life and Learning

Alick Tipoti was born in 1975 on Thursday Island. He grew up on Badu Island, also called Mulgrave Island. He also has family connections to Mabuiag Island. His father, Leniaso, was an artist and a cultural advisor. Alick became interested in art when he was a child. He was given the traditional name Zugub. This name connects him to the spirits of his ancestors, called the Zugubal.

He went to primary school on Badu Island. Later, he moved to Thursday Island for more studies. In 1992, he earned an Advanced Diploma in Arts from the TAFE college there. He then went on to study at the Australia National University in Canberra. He graduated in 1998 with a Bachelor of Visual Arts, specializing in Printmaking.

Artistic Journey

Alick Tipoti first focused on printmaking. This is a way of making art by carving designs into a material, like linocuts, and then printing them. He started showing his art in small galleries in North Queensland in the early 1990s.

In 2007, he began creating artistic versions of traditional ceremonial masks. These masks were made from fibreglass, inspired by old turtleshell masks.

He was asked to design art for big places. One design was for the floor of the Cairns Airport domestic arrivals hall. He also designed art for nine railway carriages of the Tilt Train. This train travels from Brisbane to Cairns.

In 2015, Alick performed the Marimawa dance. This is a spiritual mask dance. He performed it at the British Museum in London.

Alick has been a good friend of artist Dennis Nona. They both share similar goals for their art. Their work has greatly helped to create a "school of contemporary Torres Strait Islander art." Alick also guides younger artists in the Torres Strait Islands. He helps them learn and grow from his success.

What He Creates Now

Alick Tipoti's art includes printmaking, sculpture, painting, and dance. He also does performance art. He often creates art about legendary heroes. His artworks include weapons, dhari (a traditional Torres Strait Islander headdress), masks, and drums. The dhari is even on the Torres Strait Islander Flag.

His art shows the culture of his people, the Maluyligal of the Torres Strait. He strongly focuses on representing his language. His artworks sometimes tell a long story. They can even include more than one image. He pays close attention to small details in his art.

Alick wants to record parts of his culture. This includes stories, family histories, and songs. He hopes future generations can learn from his work. He is one of the last people to speak Kala Lagaw Ya fluently. This is the language of the Maluilgal nation. Because of this, he works on programs to help save the language. He also speaks Kala Kawa Ya, from the Guda Maluyligal nation.

He teaches language, culture, and history. He teaches at Tagai State College and Thursday Island TAFE. He mostly lives and works in Cairns.

Working for Change

Alick Tipoti has been active in telling people about the dangers of climate change. He also speaks out about plastic pollution in the ocean. His art exhibit for Taba Naba - Australia, Oceania, Arts of the Sea People started in 2016. It was at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco. This exhibit helped him meet Prince Albert II of Monaco. The Prince is very interested in protecting the environment. The Prince later visited the Torres Strait and stayed with Alick and his family.

In 2021, a full-length documentary film called Alick and Albert was released. It was made by Trish Lake from Brisbane. Alick Tipoti helped write the film. The film tells stories of the Badulgal people from Badu Island. It also shares stories of the Monégasque people from Monaco. Both groups are worried about climate change and the future of the oceans. Most of the filming was done before the COVID-19 pandemic made travel difficult. The film first showed at the Brisbane International Film Festival in October 2021.

Awards and Honours

Alick Tipoti has received many awards. He started winning awards when he was a student. In 1993, he was named Art Student of the Year at Townsville Pimlico TAFE College. In 1997, he was the Australian Capital Territory Scholar of the Year after his studies at ANU. In 1998, he won the Lin Onus Youth Prize. This was at the 4th National Indigenous Heritage Art Award.

Other awards include:

Exhibitions

Alick Tipoti's art has been shown in many group exhibitions. Some of these include:

He has also had solo exhibitions, where only his art is shown:

  • 2007–2009: Malangu – From the Sea: shown in galleries across Australia and in Paris, France.
  • 2011: Mawa Adhaz Pa’ar – Sorcerer Masks, at Canopy Artspace, Cairns.
  • 2012: Badhulayg – Person of Badu, at Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne.
  • 2015: Alick Tipoti Zugubal: Ancestral Spirits, at Cairns Regional Gallery, Cairns.
  • 2016: Lagangu, at Linden New Art, Melbourne.
  • 2020–2022: Mariw Minaral (Spiritual Patterns), at the Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney.

Where His Art Is Kept

Alick Tipoti's artwork is held in many important collections. These are places like museums and art galleries. His art can be found in Australia and other countries. Some of these places include:

Films About Him

  • Zugub, the mask, the spirits and the stars (2012)
  • Alick and Albert (2021)
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