Description
Waru or turtle live in the pristine waters surrounding the artist’s island of Badu in the Torres Strait.
These sea creatures are respected and sacred to the people of the region. Waru is one of the totems of the people of Badu Island.
The Waru has been made from Thul wood which is a sacred tree belonging to the Bizam clan of Badu Island. A ceremony was performed for the harvesting of the wood from this tree. The wood is extremely hard and takes great skill to carve.
The artist is a master carver and highly regarded for his skill and intimate knowledge of the sea creatures he replicates.