Tony Bruce

Tony Bruce
© vanuatu ats
Fine artist, Painter, Art critic
Principal country concerned : Column : Fine arts


Sculptor on Natangura nut. Born in 1979 in Santo Island, Vanuatu, Tony Bruce was taught traditional wood carving by his cousins, and with promising talent, he began creating elaborate miniature carvings out of palm nut before his twentieth birthday.   At the age of 16, Tony Bruce leaves his island and comes to Port-Vila where he starts to learn sculpture on wood with his uncle. In 2000, thanks to a project of the Fonds pour le Pacifique Sud (FPS) on the different uses of Natangora nut, he discovers he can work on this very original natural material. On his very small nuts one can see a lot of animals, plants, people, all intertwined in legendary manners. He develops his skills as a miniature sculptor and exhibits for the first time with Nawita Association in 2001. Then in 2003 his work is shown at the first exhibition dedicated to Natangora by FPS. He now lives from his art and sometimes teaches young people the skills he has aquired. Palm nut, also referred to as corozo, tagua, or vegetable ivory, can be carved like elephant ivory when dried out.  The kernels are typically harvested after the ripe fruit has detached from the tree and fallen to the ground.  Carving palm nuts is a tradition found in numerous cultures around the globe, all the way from Panama to Japan. For an interesting comparison for the objects in the MOA Shop and objects in the collection, compare Bruce's work to a Japanese palm nut carving (Ed5.3188) found in Case 79, Drawer 1 in the Multiversity Galleries.



Using small chisels and a coping saw, Bruce creates highly detailed miniature carvings.  When embarking on a new carving, Bruce says, "I don't draw; the picture comes to me like a revelation.  The image is in my mind, and when I start carving, it develops more and more."  His vision is to combine traditional stories and traditional ways of living with contemporary ideas. Bruce has a particular interest in marine life and focuses on sea creatures, diving, and the ocean's movement.

Partners

  • Arterial network
  • Media, Sports and Entertainment Group (MSE)
  • Gens de la Caraïbe
  • Groupe 30 Afrique
  • Alliance Française VANUATU
  • PACIFIC ARTS ALLIANCE
  • FURTHER ARTS
  • Zimbabwe : Culture Fund Of Zimbabwe Trust
  • RDC : Groupe TACCEMS
  • Rwanda : Positive Production
  • Togo : Kadam Kadam
  • Niger : ONG Culture Art Humanité
  • Collectif 2004 Images
  • Africultures Burkina-Faso
  • Bénincultures / Editions Plurielles
  • Africiné
  • Afrilivres

With the support of