Ula lei making workshop, image courtesy of Moreton Bay Regional Council.
In a celebration of Asian and Pacific Islander arts and culture, four separate exhibitions being held concurrently across the Moreton Bay Region’s three regional art galleries will showcase emerging and established artists.
The Moreton Bay Region is home to one of Australia’s largest Pacific Islander communities and Moreton Bay Regional Council’s network of galleries has taken the opportunity to provide an artistic response to the region’s growing population.
‘We have a really strong Pacific Islander community in the region, particularly people of Samoan and Maori heritage,’ said Moreton Bay Regional Council’s Lifestyle and Amenities Councillor Julie Greer.
‘Samoan is the second most spoken language in our area and we believe this year’s calendar of exhibitions, workshops and arts activities offers a great opportunity to acknowledge these members of our community.’
Redcliffe City Art Gallery will host the touring edition of the 8th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, Queensland’s flagship contemporary art project and the world’s largest festival of Asian and Pacific art, which is expected to attract some four million visitors as it travels the state.
APT8 will feature approximately 75 emerging and established artists, filmmakers and performers from more than 25 countries, reflecting the creative energy of new and expanding artistic communities throughout the region, including India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Nepal and Solomon Islands.
Council’s Pine Rivers Art Gallery will respond with #Pacific ID, a group exhibition of artists from several small island states including Tuvalu, Tahiti, Rotuma and Tonga, that will give Pacific Islanders another opportunity to express pride in their rich and diverse cultures.
Works including wood carving, painting, weaving, surfboards, paddles, textiles and even video animation will be displayed as an example of many Pacific Islanders’ water-based cultures that form part of their life in the Moreton Bay Region, rather than as a longing to return to traditional ways.
Caboolture Regional Art Gallery will host two shows. The first, Coconut Water, to be curated by Samoan-Persian artist and curator Léuli Eshraghi, will look at contemporary issues pertinent to Pacific cultures. The second exhibition, Samoa Tula’I (translated as Samoa Arise) will be the culmination of a series of monthly workshops celebrating Samoan arts and culture.
Funded by a Regional Arts Development grant, the program is designed to engage Samoan and other local Pacific Islander communities through traditional arts and culture, with regular workshops exploring dance, music, lei-making, timber carving, stencil art, screen printing and plastic object making.
For more information visit Moreton Bay Regional Council.
