ARCHIVED MEDIA RELEASE
PA/13/2006 13 March 2006
Seasons of the Kunwinjku comes to Delhi
Senator the Hon Amanda Vanstone, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Government of Australia, today opened in Delhi an Australian aboriginal art exhibition, “Seasons of the Kunwinjku”.
“Seasons of the Kunwinjku” is part of the Australia International Cultural Council events in India under AusArts. This collection of contemporary indigenous Australian paintings reflects the lyrical grace of West Arnhem Land’s rich artistic tradition. The exhibition travels from Kolkata, where it was exhibited last month.
For approximately 50,000 years the Kunwinjku people have employed the stylistic techniques and images expressed in ochre and earth pigments in this exhibition. Today’s Kunwinjku artists have transposed these traditions from rock and bark to paper. This development has allowed the artists to communicate with renewed vitality.
The paintings are from INJALAK Arts and Crafts Association Inc., a non-profit association comprising around 150 artists and crafts as members. The exhibition was produced by INJALAK in consultation with senior Kunwinjku artists and cultural advisors.
AusArts India: film, arts, literature is a two- year cultural promotion program supported by the Australian Government through the Australia International Cultural Council (AICC). During 2006-2007, AusArts will showcase the diversity of Australian culture through Australia’s participation in film festivals, book fairs and other art and cultural events throughout the country. As part of the AusArts: India promotion, a package of select Australian films was recently screened at the Kolkata, Pune, Mumbai and Chennai Film Festivals.
For more information please contact: John Fisher, First Secretary, (011 413 99997)
The exhibition will also be on view until 20 March 2006 (11:00 am to 7:00 pm)
AusArts India: film, arts, literature is supported by the Australian Government through the Australia International Cultural Council an initiative of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in partnership with the Australia Council, the Australian Film Commission, Austrade, Tourism Australia and the Australia-India Council.