Elise Archer,Minister for Arts
On behalf of the Tasmanian Government, I would like to extend my sincere condolences to the family and friends of one of the State’s best known and celebrated artists, Tom Samek, who passed away last week.
Originally born in Prague in the Czech Republic, Mr Samek moved to Australia and settled in Tasmania in the 1970s. His exceptional talent, craft and visual wit have played an integral role in putting Tasmanian art on the map and his work is represented in galleries around Australia and New Zealand.
Tom Samek’s unique style imbued humour and whimsy into his visual reflections on everyday life, and his instantly recognisable visual parodies of our relationship with food, drink, culture and the domestic world around us exude a genuine warmth and compassion for the human condition.
Some of Mr Samek’s best known large scale art pieces here in Tasmania include Flawed History of Tasmanian Wine, a floor mural in a gallery above the tasting room of the Meadowbank Estate winery and restaurant, the RACT Mural in the foyer of the RACT Building in Hobart, and two celebratory murals at the School of Engineering at the University of Tasmania’s Sandy Bay campus.
On a personal note, I know that Mr Samek was incredibly generous, donating many of his artworks and his own culinary talent for auction, for the benefit of many local charities.
Mr Samek’s passing will be deeply felt by the arts community both near and far, but his incredible talent and creative legacy leaves a lasting impression that will be celebrated for many, many years to come. Vale Tom Samek.
