Ken Thaiday Snr

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Ken Thaiday (born 1950), known as Ken Thaiday Snr, is an artist from

kinetic sculptures
, which connect to his island traditions and culture.

Early life and influences

Thaiday was born in 1950

Meriam Mir
people of Torres Strait Island.

Thaiday's father, Tat Thaiday, was a cultural leader,

choreographers.[3]

Thaiday attended school on Thursday Island until he was fifteen, when he and his family settled in Cairns in Far North Queensland, Australia. He worked for Queensland Rail for over ten years, and also in the mining industry in the Pilbara in Western Australia. The experience in assembling and dissembling machinery later influenced his sculptures with moving parts.[2]

Beliefs and community activities

Thaiday leads and participates in many important community events in the Islands, such as

The Coming of the Light (when Christianity arrived on Erub in the form of the London Missionary Society in 1871[4]), holding the position of Chairman for five years. He is deeply religious and attributes the inspiration for and development of his creative works to God. His works often feature painted depictions of Kernus, the landing place of the missionaries, and the church on Erub.[2]

He has also mentored many Torres Strait Island artists, and is passionate about passing on his keep knowledge and understanding of the sea and Islander traditions and culture, which includes deep connections with animals.[2]

Artwork and career

Thaiday returned to Cairns in the late 1980s and established the Loza Dance Group with other Torres Strait Islanders there, and began creating dance artefacts.[2] In 1987, he began constructing "mobilised artefacts" for the Darnley Island Dance Troupe. The artefacts connect with traditions and clan identity.[5]

He later started working in a more contemporary style, often using modern materials, such as

articulated, allowing dancers to move parts of them.[2]

In 2006 he spent three months at the

the University of Virginia in the US.[2]

Recognition and awards

Australia Council for the Arts

The

Australia Council for the Arts is the arts funding and advisory body for the Government of Australia. Since 1993, it has awarded a Red Ochre Award
. It is presented to an outstanding Indigenous Australian (Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander) artist for lifetime achievement.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2017[2] himself Red Ochre Award Awarded

In late 2016, Thaiday was awarded an

University of Sunshine Coast, as the "most distinctive artist of the Eastern Torres Strait".[2]

In 2020 Thaiday featured as one of six Indigenous artists in the ABC TV series This Place: Artist Series. The series is a partnership between the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the National Gallery of Australia, in which the producers travelled to the countries of "some of Australia's greatest Indigenous artists to share stories about their work, their country, and their communities".[6][7]

Exhibitions and gallery holdings

Thaiday's work has been showcased in over 50 exhibitions, in Australian and international galleries, including:

Museum of Victoria; the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in Sydney; and the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco.[2]

In 2014, Thaiday presented a major installation, which included a huge sculpture and new dances, at

National Indigenous Art Triennial, Defying Empire, in 2017.[2]

Further reading

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Ken Thaiday Snr". Ipswich Art Gallery. 10 October 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Dr Ken Thaiday Senior". Australia Council. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  3. ^ "This Place: Artist Series: Ken Thaiday Snr" (video). ABC iview. 6 March 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  4. ^ "Aboriginal Christians & Christianity". Creative Spirits. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Ken Thaiday". Art Gallery NSW. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  6. ^ Whitford, Maddie (13 April 2020). "Producers reflect on profound experience walking with Indigenous artists on country". ABC News. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  7. ^ "This Place: Artist Series". ABC iview. 6 March 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
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