Categories: General
      Date: Jan 13, 2012
     Title: Historic Australian Aboriginal Exhibition in Cuba

Associate Professor Wayne Quilliam one of Australia’s most respected Aboriginal photographic artists will show more than 60 pieces from his extensive international collection at the Convento de San Francisoco in the heart of Havana.  Invited by the Cuban Government, Quilliam created a special series of work exposing Cuban people to the beauty and diversity of Australian Aboriginal people.  Following the recent success of exhibitions at Encuentro Mundial de Arte Corporal in Caracas, Venezuela, his ‘Lowanna’ show in Sicily, Italy, ‘Water’ at the United Nations, New York and ‘Synchronicity’ at Boomalli Aboriginal Art Co-operative in Sydney, Australia, Quilliam spent many months deliberating on the right balance of images that represented himself as an artist and more importantly his culture.

“Having created and curated more than 100 exhibitions across the globe, I believe this exhibition to be a defining moment in the contemporary Aboriginal art movement. We are creating history on some many levels and it is a great honour to be involved, particularly as in the past it would be incomprehensible to hang nudes in the same space traditional art.  We are experiencing a new dawn in the art world; it is becoming a place for all the ‘mob’ to participate in the expression of culture, country and community through modern technology.  Old people tell me how they are happy the young ones are using digital art to tell their stories and ensure our culture grows as a living entity.  To be the first artists to be invited into such a creative country is a testament to how significant and highly regarded Australian Aboriginal art and culture is valued and hope this show creates a long term friendship between our countries” Quilliam said.

During his visit Quilliam will light up several historic buildings with images from his collection that was projected onto the Dreaming Festival site over the 2011 New Years and will be accompanied by music and sound from rural, remote and urban communities.  He will also conduct seminars and workshops at Universities, Schools and community groups in conjunction with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.   Quilliams artwork will return to Australia in March and feature at Japinga Gallery during FotoFreo in Perth during March/April 2012 then onto Europe.

Australian Journey Festival features the photographic artwork of Wayne Quilliam, Art Collection from Balgo and Burial Poles from Maree Clarke.  The Festival will open on the 26^th of January and close on the 26^th of February.

For more information contact Jodie Bujok on 03 93951333 or Wayne on 0413 812222.

Professor Wayne Quilliam

A/Professor RMIT

2009 NAIDOC Artist of the Year/2010/11 AIMSC Business of the Year/2009 Human Rights Award