Kowbu Gidha Kedha [World war story as its told]

'This print is my interpretation of the plane stories from World War 2 being told through songs. Songs and dances were our main tools of education. The figures on the top are the village dancers of that time performing the plane dance. The print is naturally carved through traditional Torres Strait Island patterns however I have disguised some images for the viewer to find within the print. Things to find; plane, medals, face of an islander composing songs, Warup (island drum), Bu (cronch shell), Kulap (shaker), Uruyl (birds) and some Adhaz Parul (masks). The obvious circular patterns represent the islands of the Kaywalagal regions. The flow of the patterns indicates the flight route of the world war fighter planes. The medals represent my grandfather Waipila Tipoti who served in World War 2. There were six Tipoti brothers who served in the war: Q85185 PTE TIPOTI ATRIDGE; Q85181 PTE TIPOTI WAIPILA; Q85183 LCPL TIPOTI ONGOPO; Q85251 PTE TIPOTI ALICK; Q85424 PTE TIPOTI ERETO and Q85263 PTE TIPOTI WAIRU.' Alick Tipoti, 2016

In 2015 the Australian War Memorial commissioned five artists working at Badhulgaw Kuthinaw Mudh (Badu Art Centre) on Badu Island in the Torres Straits to create a suite of lino prints that interpret the experience of the Second World War and its legacy for their community.

Alick Tipoti is a senior artist working at Badu Art Centre. He is internationally recognised as a printmaker, sculptor, dancer and singer. In 2016 Alick was commissioned by the Memorial as official war artist to the 51st Far North Queensland Regiment, C 'Charlie' Company and his commission is due for completion in early 2017.

• Ngaw Babn ngu Ngayka [from my father to me]
• Ngoelmun Athel [our Grandfathers]
• Kuyurudh [arrow head formation]
• Ngaw Athen Thonarnu [during my grandfathers time]