Billy Missi comes from Maluilgal country in Zenadh Kes (Mabuiag Island in Western Torres Strait, Australia). He is a part of the Wagedagam Tribe with the primary totem of Kodal (crocodile) and an associate member to the Dhanghal (dugong) clan of Panai to the East and the Kaigas (shovelnose ray) clan of Geomu to the South on the Island of Mabuiag.
Missi grew up in the customary ways of his traditional culture and heritage in the Torres Strait. He comes from a well-respected generation of art practitioners and geographers of Mabuiag who have passed down the protocols, practices and heritage of the Torres Strait culture through storytelling, songs and dance.
Missi became interested in the concepts of art – drawing and painting, in the early years of his life and 1999 began developing his artistic ability in the media of sculpture, lino-cut and paintings. He has won many art awards including the Non-Acquisitive Prize at the '31st Fremantle Print Awards 2006’. His work received the award of Highly Commended in the '5th National Heritage Art Awards 2000’.
Missi is a founding member of Mualgau Minaral Artist Collective, the first printmaking facility in the Torres Strait. Based in Kubin Village on Moa Island it is a nascent fine arts project for the Torres Strait Islands. His contribution to the Torres Strait arts industry is noteworthy and includes successful exhibitions throughout the region, nationally and internationally. Prestigious international collections include the Victoria and Albert Museum (U.K.), Cambridge Museum of Anthropology (U.K.) and University of British Colombia (Canada).
Through his artwork, Missi expressed the importance of cultural heritage and kinships, and he demonstrates how this has sustained his people to survive for many, many generations in the tropical paradise of Zenadh Kes (Torres Strait). In 2009 Missi was working out of Cairns, Queensland. His a number of his works are published through Djumbunji Press Kick Arts Fine Art Printmaking.
- Writers:
- KickArts Contemporary Arts
Russell Milledge
- Date written:
- 2009
- Last updated:
- 2019
