This striking work, made from pearl shell, bamboo, twine, goose feathers and raffia, is titled Op Nor Beziam (Tiger Shark Mask).

Like many Torres Strait Islander people, Cedar’s parents moved to mainland Australia for work, which took them to Western Australia.

Cedar was always surrounded by his Torres Strait Islander culture, with a large family and Torres Strait Islander community for support.

He was taught the importance of his culture by his elders who passed down to him traditional ways, practices and protocols.

Cedar now resides in Townsville, North Queensland, and works out of his workshop creating sculptures and also doing wide format sublimation printing.

In 2011, he was a finalist in the Gosford Art Prize, with both works he entered being selected.

Cedar’s work is held in numerous private collections and universities, as well as the Cairns Regional Gallery.

He also has had three works acquired by the National Gallery of Australia.

Cedar is heavily influenced by his Torres Strait Islander culture, his totems, and particularly his father’s stories about his youth on the islands, hunting, fishing, gardening, dance and family life.

As stated by the artist: “ Op Nor Beizam (Tiger Shark) is one of my totems that I often feel inspired to create works on. Whether it be through my visual art or through my song and dance.

“I feel very inspired from hearing different traditional stories from the Eastern Islands of the Torres Strait about Op Nor Beizam told to me by my family elders and mentors, from this I like to create different totemic masks… I show Op Nor Beizam’s importance to me – when I sing or dance about em we are one and when I fish I acknowledge that he is the keeper of the sea and ask for permission and guidance.”

Op Nor Beziam (Tiger Shark Mask) is currently on display in the first gallery space at the Bendigo Art Gallery.

The gallery is open daily, 10am - 5pm.