Indigenous Astronomy in Art

By Nicola Heath

ABC Arts

Topic: Visual Art

Monday, June 8, 2026, at 4:30 am

Torres Strait Islander artist Brian Robinson's work is on show at Newcastle Art Gallery and Vivid Sydney.

Every night, Brian Robinson looks up at the star-filled sky as he walks to his studio in Cairns.

Brian Robinson says, 'All life starts with gazing at the cosmos.'

Brian Robinson's interest in cosmology is the foundation of his art, currently on show at Newcastle Art Gallery.

Brian Robinson is a Maluyligal and Wuthathi man with Scottish and Filipino heritage, born on Waiben in the Torres Strait.

Brian Robinson incorporates sculptural elements into his prints.

The show's title, Multiverse, reflects the multilayered quality of Brian Robinson's work.

Brian Robinson starts with an Indigenous storytelling base and adds layers to his work.

Brian Robinson can work on a small or large scale, from designing medallions to creating public art installations.

Brian Robinson's public art installations include Woven Fish and Citizens Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.

Brian Robinson's work is also on show at Vivid Sydney, in the Mythical Mashup exhibition.

In one installation, Torres Strait motifs and pop culture icons engage in a battle on the museum rooftop.

Brian Robinson says, 'The title Multiverse speaks about the different universes that inspire my work.'

Brian Robinson is also a curator and worked on the WARWAR exhibition of Torres Strait Islander art in 2021.

Newcastle Art Gallery director Lauretta Morton says the WARWAR exhibition was a landmark.

Lauretta Morton asked Brian Robinson for more prints in the show, but he said it was not a Brian Robinson show.

Five years later, the Brian Robinson show has finally arrived at Newcastle Art Gallery.

Lauretta Morton says the gallery's expansion was a long journey, but they promised to do a major survey of Brian Robinson's work.

Everyday magic

In 2025, Brian Robinson spent two weeks at the University of Newcastle creating a new work for Multiverse.

The vinylcut print, Abracadabra, is full of magic, mystery, and science contraptions.

Brian Robinson conceived of Abracadabra on a drive from Cairns to Rockhampton.

Brian Robinson wrote out his idea for Abracadabra as soon as he arrived at his hotel.

Abracadabra features a series of shelves holding weird and wonderful objects.

Abracadabra expresses Brian Robinson's preoccupation with the magic of everyday life.

The finished print comprises four individual panels, each measuring 1 metre by 2 metres.

Many objects in Abracadabra are from the University of Newcastle's scientific collection.

Other objects come from traditional Torres Strait Islander culture, biblical stories, and pop culture.

The carapace of a hawksbill turtle is used to make traditional Torres Strait turtle shell masks.

Some objects are traditional charms used to bring rain or promote crop growth.

Keen-eyed viewers will spot Harry Potter's wand, Shrek's love potion, and references to the Marvel universe.

Multiverse draws from the last 10 years of Brian Robinson's career.

In Abracadabra, Brian Robinson channels the magic of everyday life.

Brian Robinson says magic is a part of the culture he grew up in and is present in every culture.

Living by the stars

Many of Brian Robinson's works feature symbols of Indigenous astronomy and Space Age exploration.

Torres Strait Islanders traditionally relied on the stars for navigation and to mark the passing of seasons.

Zugubal tells the story of Tagai, an ancestral spirit who stands in his canoe in the Milky Way.

Tagai is a grand constellation incorporating stars from smaller Western constellations.

Brian Robinson says his work skims the surface of cultural narrative, and some aspects of Torres Strait culture are not for public eyes.

Life in the Torres Strait is tied to Tagai's progress across the sky.

The constellation serves as a seasonal calendar for island communities.

After turtle mating season, people can collect turtle eggs from the beaches.

The constellation indicates the incoming monsoon season, which brings water for crops.

A master of composition

Brian Robinson's artistic talent was evident from an early age on Waiben.

As a child, Brian Robinson loved to draw.

His early experiments with printmaking were not promising.

Brian Robinson did his first linocut in year eight at high school and was not satisfied with it.

Brian Robinson tried printmaking again at Cairns College of TAFE and had a very different experience.

Brian Robinson fell in love with printmaking and had a fantastic time at the college.

Brian Robinson still loves to draw, and it is the basis for his larger work.

Today, Brian Robinson is part of the Torres Strait's vibrant printmaking movement.

The intricate patternation of Brian Robinson's prints draws on traditional Torres Strait design known as minaral.

Brian Robinson carves minaral patterns freehand into the material.

There are areas of flat black in Brian Robinson's prints where the eye can rest.

Lauretta Morton says Brian Robinson's knack for composition sets his work apart.

Newcastle Art Gallery holds six Brian Robinson works in its permanent collection.

Lauretta Morton praises Brian Robinson's work for its technical skill and sculptural elements.

Brian Robinson's use of black space is masterful.

Brian Robinson: Multiverse is at Newcastle Art Gallery until August 30.

Monday, June 8, 2026, at 4:30 am

Monday, June 8, 2026, at 11:28 am

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