Torres Strait Islander artist Tori-Jay Mordey is hopeful her portraits of the Torres Strait 8 will bring more attention to their cause as they're projected onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylons for Vivid Sydney.
"I don't think I've ever done an art piece that big before," Mordey told NITV after seeing her art on the 89-metre-high pylons for the first time.
Mordey worked in collaboration with animators Spinifex, who brought her piece to life.
"It took my breath away the first time they played it. The more I've been seeing and being a part of it, it's been amazing."
In developing the pieces for Vivid, Mordey said the artists were working around the theme 'humanity'.
"Our community and people up there are essentially going to become the first climate refugees," said Mordey.
"It seemed so perfect to feature them in a theme about humanity."
The Torres Strait 8 are an activist group that won a historic legal case back in 2022 against the Australian government.
In a landmark ruling, the United Nations Human Rights committee agreed the government had breached its human rights obligations stating that Australia’s climate inaction was a violation of the group's right to family life and right to culture.
In response to the findings, the Australian government agreed climate change was impacting the daily lives of those living in the Torres Strait but has continued to refuse to pay compensation as recommended by the UN.
From the court case emerged the 'Our Islands, Our Home' campaign which outlines five demands from the Torres Strait 8.
- Fund adaptation programs that will allow Zenadh Kes (Torres Strait Islands) communities to adapt to climate impacts
- Commit to going 100 per cent renewables in Australia in the next 10 years
- Support Zenadh Kes communities to build community-owned renewable energy
- Transition away from fossil fuels as rapidly as possible through a just transition for workers
- Push the world to increase global ambition and keep warming to less than 1.5 degrees
Mordey, who was born on Thursday Island and is based in Brisbane, was surprised more people weren't aware of the Torres Strait 8 and their historic work when speaking to people in Sydney for Vivid, making her piece all the more important to raise awareness.
"It's a massive platform for people to get curious about it and learn about it," Mordey said.
"There are sections of the animation where we have the Torres Strait 8 name pop up, so I'm hopeful that this will bring more attention to them and bring more people over to really see the hard work they're doing and really support the cause that they're fighting for."
Mordey's portraits were originally created just before the group won the case and is looking forward to seeing them on display in an innovative way.
"I've been in close contact with the Our Island, Our Home people and letting them see the behind the scenes stuff," Mordey.
"I wanted them to see the process and they've loved it every step of the way, so I hope I make them proud with this and I hope they love it."
