Daniel O’Shane
Born: 1990, Cairns
Language Group:
Miriam Mer (eastern Torres Strait) (mother)
Kuku Yalanji (Mossman to Cooktown) & Kulkagal (central Torres Strait) (father)
Tribe: Meuram (Darnley/Erub Island)
Totem: Beugerr (Booby Bird)
Clan Totems: Omia (Dog), Nam (Green Sea Turtle), Serarr (Black Neit Tern)
Daniel comes from a strong family of Aboriginal and Eastern Torres Strait Islander heritage. The traditional stories re-told in Daniel’s work are passed down to him by family members and respected elders from Erub (Darnley) Island, home to his mother’s family. Daniel draws inspiration from the previous generation of Torres Strait Islander printmakers, combining an extraordinary talent in carving ‘warr’, a form of symbolic patterning, to create a rich moving tapestry that serves as a backdrop for the characters in his stories. Daniel has been the recipient of several prestigious national print awards, and his work is held in major national and international collections.
