Royal Melbourne Show Exhibit 2025: Storytelling in Indigenous Art of the Pacific and Asia

The items on display come from the personal collection of Jim Finger, President of the Victoria Bookbinders' Guild. Each piece is accompanied by his stories and words, offering unique insights into the craft, history, and artistry of storytelling in Indigenous Art of the Pacific and Asia. Together, they reflect not only his passion for the trade but also his dedication to preserving and sharing the traditions of story telling and bookmaking.

Tapa Wall Hanging – Tonga

[No picture available.]

This unusual piece was found in an op shop. Traditional tapa cloth is made by beating the bark of the tapa tree. This hanging was apparently created for a ceremony and contains the inscription: “In God and Tonga we have our being or existence.” Attempts to trace its history have been unsuccessful.
The printing process involves using a smooth tree trunk with various items attached to its surface. Dyes are applied to the trunk, and the cloth is laid over it to make an imprint. This process is repeated several times to create the overall wall hanging, with other sections embossed by hand.

Tapa – Bishop Museum, Hawaii

By the 1970s, tapa production in Hawaii had ceased. Traditionally, it was used for clothing and burial shrouds. The Bishop Museum initiated a program to revive the craft by encouraging young people to learn it.
This particular piece was purchased by Betine Gresford, a bookbinder, and later came to me when I acquired her collection.

Bark Painting – Aboriginal Art, Northern Territory

I purchased this piece in Oenpelli in 2005 at the Aboriginal Art Collective. It reflects traditional styles and themes similar to many of the rock paintings in the area.

I used a photo of this work for the book covers and slipcase in a competition entry of Little Black Princess, written at Mataranka Station, not far from Oenpelli. The slipcase was finished with snakeskin in the binding.

Wood Carving – Papua New Guinea

Fly River District. This carving was originally a gift to a riverboat captain who operated a trade vessel along the Fly River in the 1960s. It passed to his son, and eventually to me. 

In Papua New Guinea, food is usually carried by women in baskets on their backs, supported by a strap across the forehead. When the women return to the hut, the dilli bag is hung from the roof with a carved food hook. This is done for two reasons: firstly, if left on the floor, insects would quickly attack the food; and secondly, the carving is designed to frighten away anyone who might attempt to steal it. Thus, the carved hook serves both a practical and symbolic purpose.

Indonesian Dolls 

[On display in the Community Space and in Cabinet.]

Indonesia has a rich tradition of storytelling through puppets, both shadow and carved. The variety of designs and stories is vast. These two dolls were purchased at an Indonesian cultural display, which I was fortunate to visit several times. I watched the artist creating the batik clothing for them and, after some negotiation, I was able to purchase not only the pair but also the batik pen used in their making. Each doll carries a traditional story—and also the story of how they came into my collection.

In Community Display

In Cabinet Display

Japanese Paper Cuts

Japan is well known for its paper-cutting art form, which tells stories of everyday and extraordinary life. At the Perth Royal Show some years ago, I visited the Japanese Pavilion and met the artist Kazu. Kazu spoke no English, but a translator assisted. A chef by trade, he used his large cooking knives to carve intricate paper cuts. Although the works were intended for display only, I expressed interest in purchasing the large Tuna Fish papercut. After the exhibition, Kazu rewarded my persistence—not only agreeing to sell me the piece but also gifting me a butterfly papercut made especially for me. It was a great privilege. I stayed in touch with Kazu and hoped to one day visit his home in northern Japan. Sadly, his home and farm were destroyed in the 2011 tsunami, which we all watched unfold on television, and I lost contact with him afterwards. Stories within stories.