"Just Beneath the Surface" 2023

Jimmy John Thaiday   

Kuz and Peiudu clans. Born 1978, Thursday Island, Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait Islands). Lives and works Erub (Darnley) Island, Zenadth Kes, Queensland. 

 

Keiran James  

Born 1976, Camden, New South Wales. Lives and works in Sawtell, New South Wales. 

 

"Just Beneath the Surface"  2023 

high-definition video and audio 

5:13 minutes 

 

Courtesy of the artists and Artbank Collection, purchased 2024. 

 

 

Jimmy John Thaiday belongs to the Kuz and Peiudu clans of Erub (Darnley) Island, the most northeastern island in Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait). The waterways of Zenadth Kes, like all elements of the living world, possess a soul or spirit. This is translated in Thaiday’s practice, as he draws inspiration from time spent fishing, walking the reefs of Erub, and observing the movements of sea creatures, tides, and subtle and immediate environmental changes. 

 

His film Just Beneath the Surface, co-created with Kieran James, draws attention to the extreme conditions faced in Zenadth Kes. The story depicts Thaiday encountering troubled waters during a fishing trip and becoming entangled in floating ghost nets—abandoned fishing nets that cause significant damage to the environment and marine life. A circling shark appears, representing both danger and cultural authority, a powerful presence in Zenadth Kes cosmology. The message of ghost nets in this work contributes to water protection by addressing the issues impacting oceans and interconnected cultural life. As Thaiday explains:  

 

"The ocean is always changing, shifting, and moving. Like all creatures, we are affected by the forces that shape the ocean. The tides, waves, wind, and currents of the ocean bring us food and shape our culture. 

 

The Earth’s power gives new life to sustain us all, but we must show more care. The ocean is mysterious—many secrets lie just beneath the surface. We must respect the ocean’s power; it can provide for us, but also take life away."