David Bosun

Torres Strait Island

Date of Birth: 1973
Languages: Kala Lagaw Ya, Kriol

Torres Strait Island artist David Bosun grew up in a very sensitive cultural environment and from the age of four he practised traditional dancing and singing. He first became interested in art in grade six after participating in an art class at school. David went to Thursday Island Secondary school and later moved to All Saints and St Gabriels Anglican college in Charters Towers, Queensland. During High School he was always in trouble for drawing in class instead of doing his work.

David has attended James Cook University and Cairns TAFE. He travelled extensively internationally with the touring exhibition Gelam my Son. He was also part of a delegation to Cambridge University and is believed to be part of the first people from the Torres Strait to examine the Haddon Collection of Torre Strait artefacts. David has also attended a cultural exchange in Suva, Fiji.

David believes that both the future generations in the Torres Strait as well as the rest of the world need to be educated about the rich cultural heritage and distinctiveness of Torres Strait culture. He is striving to record and illustrate his ancestral beliefs & traditions through the visual and performing arts.


Recent Group Exhibitions

  • 2023, June | Northsite, Cairns Malu Bardthar Dapar
  • 2022, October | Tarnanthi 2022 Adelaide SA
  • 2022, August | Darwin Convention Centre Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) 2022
  • 2021, November | CIAF21 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) Virtual Exhibtion 2021
  • 2021, October | Tarnanthi Art Fair Tarnanthi 2021
  • 2021, August | DAAF 21 Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) Virtual Exhibition 2021
  • 2020, August | CIAF 20 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) Virtual Exhibtion 2020
  • 2020, August | DAAF, Darwin Convention Centre, Darwin, NT Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF)

Awards

  • 2018 National Works on Paper – Finalist
  • 2018 Gab Titui Indigenous Art Award – Commended
  • 2014 Telstra Art Award – Finalist
  • 2011 Gab Titui Indigenous Art Award – Commended

Commissions

  • 2024 Australian Olympic Committee athlete accessory designs, Tokyo Olympics 2022 and Paris 2024
  • 2013 Kulge-Ruhe / Australia Council Residency, University of Virginia USA

Words: Courtesy of Moa Arts