Media Release
25 July 2020
Indonesian artists who have engaged with Indigenous Australian artists and communities will display their artworks online and at an exhibition in Darwin, Australia from 24 July until 22 August.
The exhibition at the Northern Centre for Contemporary Art (NCCA) in Darwin will bring together a large collection of works and photographs created over the past five years as part of the Artist’s Camps.
The Artists’ Camp has introduced Indonesian artists to northern Australia landscapes and Indigenous cultures since the 1970s and this year, due to COVID-19, the exhibition will be available online.
The NCCA has created a video tour of the gallery and artworks, including discussions with the Indonesian artists about their interpretation of Australian Indigenous cultures.
“This virtual exhibition will keep cultural communities in both countries connected in the middle of this COVID-19 pandemic,” Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Gary Quinlan, said.
“Australia and Indonesia first connected four hundred years ago when traders from Makassar visited northern Australia annually in search of the trepang or sea cucumber. Those visits left an imprint in both countries’ language, ritual and memory. We are now connecting more through our art.”
“These artists have captured in their art and photographs the uniqueness of Australia’s Northern Territory, as seen through Indonesian eyes. As two such close neighbours with distinctive cultural traditions we need to share more of these perspectives to learn more about each other. This exhibition helps us do so.”
The exhibiting Indonesian artists include Dalbo Suarimbawa, Dewa Rata Yoga, Gede Gunada, Made Budhiana, Made Sudibia, Ni Nyoman Sani, Suryani and Wayan Wirawan.
Connected to the exhibition, and supported by the Australian Embassy, will an online discussion for Indonesian and Australian galleries and museum stakeholders about how to gain an effective online presence for an art exhibition.
The Artists’ Camp Retrospective Exhibition can be digitally accessed on https://nccart.com.au/.
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