Media Release
27 August 2019
A cross-cultural musical collaboration featuring indigenous Australian artists from the Kimberley region of Western Australia was held at the Australian Embassy Jakarta this evening.
The performance featured three Aboriginal artists, Stephen Pigram, Mark Atkins, and Mick Manolis, together with Indonesian artists, Nyak Ina Raseuki (Ubiet), Shafur Bachtiar and Dimawan Krisnowo Adji. Together they presented a unique musical performance combining western, Indonesian and Aboriginal instruments and styles of music.
The Kimberley Indonesia Project, presented by Perth-based Tura New Music and funded by the Australia-Indonesia Institute, aims to build a strong foundation for long-term cultural exchanges between Indonesian and northern Australian artists.
“The Australian Government is delighted to support this exciting collaboration between Indonesian and Aboriginal Australian musicians,” said Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Gary Quinlan.
“Music is often the medium through which diverse cultures seek to understand each other.”
“That is what this collaboration is about and it makes understanding between our communities more vibrant.”
The project started in November 2018 with Indonesian artist Nyak Ina Raseuki (Ubiet), undertaking a residency in Kimberley communities including Broome and Warmun, where she collaborated with Aboriginal artists including Stephen Pigram and Gabriel Nodea, and experienced traditional Aboriginal culture.
The project is currently in its second phase with the Aboriginal artists travelling to Indonesia for an intensive week-long collaboration with Indonesian artists in Yogyakarta.
In the third phase of the project, in September 2020 all participating artists will gather in Broome for further collaborations and to hold a mini festival of the work created.
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Lydia Trotter 021 2550 5566