David Bosun

"I am from the tribe of Wug on Mua Island and grew up in a very sensitive cultural environment. From the age of four I practised traditional dancing and singing and I first became interested in art in grade six after participating in an art class at school. I attended school at Thursday Island Secondary School and later moved to All Saints and St Gabriels Anglican College in Queensland. During High School I was always in trouble for drawing in class instead of doing my work. Dennis Nona was one of my classmates and our competitions to see who could do the best drawing during classes resulted in a lot of detentions. From 1993 to 1995 I studied for an Associate Diploma in Communications at James Cook University. Although I never stopped drawing I was never serious about it as my studies took up most of my time. Later a cultural studies component of my course inspired me to take up art again. In 1996 I did a Visual Arts course at the Tropical North Queensland Institute of TAFE. When I returned to Mua Island in 1997 I met up with my childhood friend Dennis Nona and realised the career I had been looking for was in fact what had always got me into trouble at school. I believe that the future generations in the Torres Strait, as well as throughout the world, need to be educated about the rich cultural heritage and distinctiveness of Torres Strait culture. I am striving to record and illustrate my ancestral beliefs and traditions through the visual and performing arts. I was also a Councillor and Project Officer with the Kubin Community Council and I am a founding member of the Mualgau Mineral Art group of Mua Island." - From the Artist in Gelam Nguzu Kazi - Dugong My Son