Works by Segar Passi

In these works, Segar Passi documents aspects of the knowledge held by Torres Strait Islanders that allows them to read the weather. Safety at sea is paramount for any island dweller, and Passi learnt from an early age to read signs of rips and whirlpools, tides and currents, as well as an intimate relationship to the movements of the stars and planets. Each of these ten watercolours shows a cloud formation that heralds an impending change in the weather: from some cloud formations, Passi can even foretell sad family news. As much of this information rests with the elders, many young people are putting their lives at risk by making long distance inter-island travel in small boats without proper knowledge of how to read the weather. These works are a major instructional series for young Torres Strait Islanders and a stunning artistic statement by one of the Strait's most senior and respected artists.