Drawing on the cultural heritage of Zenadh Kes (the Torres Strait), Brian Robinson melds traditional iconography with a diverse set of influences—Western art history, Greek mythology, and an enduring love of movies and comic books from pop culture.
Malu Githalai (2020) is Robinson’s sculptural representation of the Giant Mud Crab (Scylla Serrata). Robinson’s githalai (the Kala Lagaw Ya word for the animal) pays homage to the coastal ecology of the Torres Strait Islands—the mudflats, coastlines, mangroves and estuaries he explored as a child, and where he fondly recalls accompanying his family on crabbing expeditions. The work is comprised of 35 interlocking pieces of foam-filled PVC plastic, which has been spray-painted using lace as a stencil. The lace references the history of missionary activity in Zenadh Kes and recalls the ornate patterns of Robinson’s linocut prints and recurring floral motifs within his sculptures.
Visitors are invited to think about an animal or object that holds significance for them or evokes memories of a particular place. Using the recycled materials provided, follow the steps below to create your own sculpture.
Step 1: Choose 6-10 pieces of cardboard and plan the shape of your sculpture.
Step 2: Decorate your cardboard pieces by adding some colour or a pattern using dots, lines, flowers, or repeating shapes.
Step 3: Cut slots around the edges where the shapes will fit together.
Step 4: Start building! Interlock your cardboard shapes to create your sculpture.