The Torres Strait Island flag was permanently raised at Newcastle City Hall for the first time in the building’s 92-year history, coinciding with a landmark exhibition that focuses on the Torres Strait Islander culture.
Works of art never seen outside of the Torres Strait will be on display as part of the WARWAR: The Art of Torres Strait exhibition, developed by Newcastle Art Gallery and highly awarded artist and curator Brian Robinson.
Robinson said the exhibition was an essential part of the unique Ailan Kustom (island customs) from which wisdom, strength and creativity were drawn.
“It is through visual art, dance and song that ancestral stories and legends are maintained and passed on to the younger generation, and it is important that exhibitions such as this are supported to assist in this preservation,” Robinson said.
“Newcastle Art Gallery has played a pivotal role in the co-curation of this unique exhibition, which contributes to the development, enhancement and understanding of this amazing indigenous culture.
“For the local Torres Strait Island communities, the exhibition is a way of reconnecting back to the islands, back to family and friends, back to a rich and vibrant history defined by amazing customs imbued with ceremonies and rituals that have endured for thousands of years.”
The exhibition will include over 130 works of art drawn from the gallery’s collection, as well as newly created pieces and key loans from institutions, artists and private collections.
Several pieces have not been seen outside of the Torres Strait, including new works from Badhulgaw Kuthinaw Mudh (Badu Art Centre), Ngalmun Lagau Minaral Arts (Moa Arts) and Erub Erwer Meta (Erub Arts).
Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton said the gallery had acquired works of art from Torres Strait Islander artists since 2017, many of which will be on display for the first time.
“WARWAR features a diverse range of artworks that showcase the evolution and strength of Torres Strait Islander tradition and society through arts practitioners from the 19th century and the emergence of the contemporary art traditions of today,” Morton said.
“It explores issues of cultural maintenance, Christianity, language and the impact of globalisation on the physical environment of the Torres Strait Islands, which are located in the narrow stretch of water between the land masses of Zai Dagam Daudai (Australia) in the south and Naigai Dagam Daudai (Papua New Guinea) in the north.”
Exhibiting artists include Joseph Au, Grace Lilian Lee, Glen Mackie, Billy Missi, Laurie Nona, Brian Robinson, Dr Ken Thaiday and Alick Tipoti.
WARWAR: The Art of Torres Strait will run from May 29 to August 22 at Newcastle Art Gallery and coincides with significant dates, including Mabo Day, Reconciliation Week, Coming of the Light and NAIDOC Week.
Information source: Media release, May 26, City of Newcastle