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70 Earth and Elsewhere | Contemporary Works from the Collection
Earth and Elsewhere | Contemporary Works from the Collection 71
Segar Passi
/ Meriam Mir people, Australia b.1942 /
Kerkar meb 2
2011 / Synthetic polymer paint on paper / 70 x 100cm / Acc. 2011.049.004 / Purchased 2011 with funds from
Anne Best through the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation
Segar Pass i
Koob
2011,
Deum tepki
2011,
Kerkar meb 1
2011,
Kerkar meb 2
2011,
Lidlid
2011,
Ap gegur
2011,
Irmerira baz
2011,
Te bubum
2011,
Mi kes
2011,
Dad
2011
Segar Passi’s paintings capture aspects of the knowledge held
by Torres Strait Islanders that allows them to read the weather.
Safety at sea is paramount for island dwellers; Passi learnt from
an early age to read the signs of rips and whirlpools, tides and
currents, and to understand their intimate relationship with the
movements of the stars and planets. From cloud formations,
he can even foretell sad family news.
Koob
(meaning ‘rain cloud’ in Meriam language) indicates a
coming storm, warning fishermen not to go out because of the
rough weather.
Lidlid
shows the huge clouds that point to the
direction of the wind the next day.
Kerkar meb 1
(meaning ‘new
moon’) shows that every month the new moon is seen at different
angles and that the wind will die down the next day.