Artist Showcase | Dr Ken Thaiday Snr.
Language group: Meriam Mir
Ken Thaiday Senior was born in 1950 and grew up on Erub (Darnley Island), in the Torres Strait. In 1965 he and his family moved to Cairns where he lived and worked for more than ten years before eventually returning to Erub to live.
Ken’s works are a contemporary interpretation of traditional Torres Strait Islander ceremonies. They combine traditional materials, such as bamboo and feathers, with contemporary material that include plastics and plywood. His headdresses, dance masks and kinetic sculptures tell stories of the native animals and sea creatures of the island which hold a personal and cultural significance for him.
Ken has travelled extensively. His work has been showcased in more than 50 exhibitions in Australia and overseas and he is represented in major public and private collections.
Solo Exhibition | Highlighted Works
Erub Kebe Le
16 Aug – 20 Oct 2013
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Ken Thaiday Snr., Fish trap, c.1990, plywood, wood, paint, feathers, stones, nylon fishing line, wax and PVC plastic. Collection: Proost De Deyne, Queensland
Ken Thaiday Snr., Frigatebird, 2001, plywood, resin, nylon line, paint, wood and elastic. Collection: Proost De Deyne, Queensland
Ken Thaiday Snr., Waumer headdress, 2006, plywood, paint, nylon line and beads, Collection of the artist
Dr Ken Thaiday Snr., Whaling boat, 2013, plywood, synthetic, polymer paint, fishing line and beads, Commissioned by Cairns Regional Gallery, 2013
Ken Thaiday Snr: Erub Kebe Le installation, Cairns Art Gallery 2013
Ken Thaiday Snr., Alag mask, 2012, coconut fibre, cane, twine, fabric and paint, Collection of the artist
Ken Thaiday Snr., Eastern Island dhari headdress on a but fish (butterfish) stand, 2012, plywood, bamboo, feathers, paint, nylon line, seedpods and beads, Purchased by Cairns Regional Gallery, 2012
Ken Thaiday Snr.,Beizam (Hammerhead Shark) dance mask, 2001, black bamboo, plywood, nylon line, plastic, paint and feathers, Commissioned by Cairns Regional Gallery, 2001
Group Exhibitions | Highlighted Works
Gamu Zamiyakal - Masks, Headdresses and Dance Machines
22 Apr – 18 Jun 2023
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Dr. Ken Thaiday Snr., Black bamboo hammerhead shark headress (small), 2010, bamboo, marine ply, fishing line, eagle feathers, Commissioned by Cairns Regional Gallery, 2010
Reimagining:
between tradition and innovation
17 Oct – 10 Jan 2021
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Dr. Ken Thaiday Snr., Eastern Island dhari headdress on a coral trout wooden stand 2012, bamboo, plywood, enamel paint, cane, wire, nylon, feathers, seed pods, cats eye, Purchased by Cairns Regional Gallery, 2012
Dr. Ken Thaiday Snr., Black bamboo hammerhead shark headress (small), 2010, bamboo, marine ply, fishing line, eagle feathers, Commissioned by Cairns Regional Gallery, 2010
Dr. Ken Thaiday Snr., Beizam (Hammerhead Shark) dance mask 2001, black bamboo, plywood, nylon line, plastic, paint and feathers, Commissioned by Cairns Regional Gallery, 2001
ARTNOW FNQ 2015
27 Nov 2015 – 17 Feb 2016
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Ken THAIDAY Snr, Crayfish 2015, coreflute, light fitting, foam tube, wood, cable ties, beads, nylon line, plywood, wood, synthetic polymer paint, Courtesy of the artist
Ken THAIDAY Snr, Scorpion 2015, coreflute, light fitting, foam tube, wood, cable ties, beads, nylon line, plywood, wood, synthetic polymer paint, Courtesy of the artist
Malu Minar
2 Apr – 22 May 2011
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Dr. Ken Thaiday Snr., Beizam (Hammerhead Shark) dance mask, 2001, black bamboo, plywood, nylon line, plastic, paint and feathers, Commissioned by Cairns Regional Gallery, 2001
Ilan Pasin
6 Nov 1997 – 31 Jan 1998
View exhibition
Dr. Ken Thaiday Snr., Beizam (Hammerhead Shark) dance mask, 2001, black bamboo, plywood, nylon line, plastic, paint and feathers, Commissioned by Cairns Regional Gallery, 2001
Collection Works
Dr Ken Thaiday Snr., Eastern Island dhari headdress on a but fish (butterfish) stand, 2012, bamboo, plywood, enamel paint, cane, wire, nylon, feathers and cats eye, Purchased by Cairns Regional Gallery, 2012
Dr Ken Thaiday Snr., Whaling boat, 2013, plywood, synthetic, polymer paint, fishing line and beads, Commissioned by Cairns Regional Gallery, 2013
Dr Ken Thaiday Snr., Eastern Island dhari headdress on a coral trout stand, 2012, bamboo, plywood, enamel paint, cane, wire, nylon, feathers & cats eye, Purchased by Cairns Regional Gallery, 2012
Dr. Ken Thaiday Snr., Beizam (Hammerhead Shark) dance mask, 2001, black bamboo, plywood, nylon line, plastic, paint and feathers, Commissioned by Cairns Regional Gallery, 2001
Dr. Ken Thaiday Snr., Black bamboo hammerhead shark headress (small), 2010, bamboo, marine ply, fishing line, eagle feathers, Commissioned by Cairns Regional Gallery, 2010
Dr Ken Thaiday Snr., Serri Marup (clapper & Darnley Island landscape), 2010, bamboo, eagle feathers, enamel paint, nylon fishing line, beads and wire, Commissioned by Cairns Regional Gallery, 2010
Dr. Ken Thaiday Snr. in collaboration with Jason Christopher, Clamshell with hammerhead shark, 2011, aluminium, perspex and mechanical gearing, Commissioned by Cairns Regional Gallery, 2013
