107581945057
Kus Ekweida
This work was created to show that from death comes new life. A coconut has sprouted to life beside the remains of a turtle. A number of varieties of turtles nest and breed on the shores of the Torres Strait. Turtles are important to Torres Strait Islanders in so many different ways. It is one of their traditional tribal totems and it has been part of their customs to hunt turtles as a main food source. In Australia, abandoned fishing nets (also known as ghost nets) from boats are washed ashore, trapping marine species such as turtles and dugongs. Sadly, these turtles make up 80 percent of the marine life found caught in these nets. As an environmental project, Erub Artists are utilising these abandoned ghost nets in an attempt to clean up the oceans. Their objective is to raise awareness about the negative impacts of ghost nets by creating art such as this turtle out of reclaimed fishing nets.
This work is made by hand, any inconsistencies are inherent qualities of the process and should be treasured as such.
This work is made from recycled fishing gear and other materials that have been repurposed. While all care has been taken to ensure the longevity of these materials, it is best to avoid strong direct sunlight and exposure to extreme weather conditions. Clean with water only.
