Nick Kupetsky is a Palawa man from Tasmania and has been an artist for well over twenty years. His works have been exhibited in the National Gallery of Victoria and he has exhibited extensively through being a member of Baluk Arts Aboriginal Art Centre based in Mornington VIC.
Nick's work is inspired by old black and white photographs of his ancestors from Tasmania that provide a historical reference to the events of European impact on Tasmanian Aboriginal people. Nicks large charcoal and ochre drawings create the overwhelming emotion of the people who have been pictured which express grief, loss, confusion and dismay. Nick captures the persons strength, determination and inherent cultural integrity despite of what is happening to them. Nick has used his art to research his background and understand his history as a Palawa man.
"This painting is of The Tamar, a place where Aboriginals camped and lived, as there was plentiful supply of fish, shellfish and game.
He has found periwinkles shells in caves a long time ago, so that would've once been a source of food".
Acrylic and oil painting on unstretched canvas.
182-23