Feb 11, 2012

Australian Aboriginal Photographic Artist A. Professor Wayne Quilliam opens in Cuba

For many artists, the anticipation of an opening night is akin to their first kiss, the unbridled emotion of uncertainness, the fear of rejection, the relief of acceptance.

Fortunately for one of Australia’s most celebrated photographic artists A. Professor Wayne Quilliam, those emotions are irrelevant after creating, curating and opening over 100 major exhibitions throughout the world, or are they?

“It is literally impossible to stand in front of 400 people at the opening of your work, in a country that houses some of the world’s great art and not become emotive in some way shape or form.   Quilliam said. “The venue, Convento de San Francisoco is itself a magnificent artwork, surrounding old Havana an evolving canvas and Cuba and its people a living breathing performance”.

Quilliam discussed how having travelled to all corners of the globe, experience dictates the creation of an open mind, uninfluenced by preconceived ideas, Cuba was an exception, he describes it as the ‘Holy Grail’ for photographers.  “Information gathered before leaving painted a picture of a civilisation trapped in a bygone era, cut off from the world by a dictatorial regime, an uneducated, repressed people”.  “To ensure an unbiased view of any civilisation I always travel ahead of the official delegation and in this case was advised I may have a ‘Minder’ that would accompany me on my journey.  To the contrary, I was encouraged explore every corner of the country to capture the true essence of the land and people”.

The journey into Havana, itself was sensory overload, vintage cars, buses and trucks stopping for anyone that waved them down, Bullocks lumbering down main roads pulling mammoth wooden carts being overtaken by children ridding bareback on gangly horses.  This was within the first ten minutes, before weaving through the crowded street markets and historic buildings that reminded me of Vietnam 15 years ago, he said.

Invited by the Cuban Government, Quilliam created a series of work visualising the 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 Gallery in Sydney, Quilliam spent many months deliberating on the right balance of images that represented  his culture.

“I believe this exhibition to be a defining moment in the contemporary Aboriginal art movement. We have created history by being the first Aboriginal artists along with Maree Clarke and the Balgo Hills mob to show in Cuba, it is a testament to how highly regarded our art and culture is valued, this is the beginning of a long friendship between our countries” Quilliam said.

During his visit Quilliam conducted a series of seminars and workshops including a guided tour for Government Ministers and Art Historians.   Quilliams artwork will return to Australia and feature at Japinga Gallery during FotoFreo in Perth during March/April 2012 then onto Europe.