A Newcastle Art Gallery exhibition has been announced as the Promoting Indigenous Recognition Award winner at the National Local Government Awards this week.
The exhibition WARWAR: The Art of Torres Strait showcased works of art never before seen outside the Torres Strait and was on display from May until August this year.
Focused on Torres Strait Islander (TSI) culture, its launch coincided with Mabo Day, Reconciliation Day, Coming of the Light, NAIDOC Week, and raising the TSI flag at City Hall for the first time in the building’s 92-year history.
The exhibition was developed in collaboration with Torres Strait Islander artist and curator Brian Robinson and local artist and traditional performer Toby Cedar.
The exhibition was presented in English, Kala Lagaw Ya (Western TSI), and Meriam Mir (Eastern TSI) languages and showcased the evolution and strength of Torres Strait Islander tradition and society.
It also explored issues of cultural maintenance, Christianity, language and the impact of globalisation on the Torres Strait Islands.
Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton was thrilled the popular exhibition had received a national accolade.
“Having recently won the Museums and Galleries NSW IMAGINE Award judged by industry peers, we are beyond thrilled and so grateful to have now been recognised nationally for this incredible exhibition project,” Morton said.
“With over 130 works of art, many from major Australian institutions and the Torres Strait Islands that have never been publicly displayed before.
“The exhibition provided an incredible opportunity for our local TSI community and visitors to experience and gain a new appreciation and understanding of TSI culture here in Newcastle.”
A partnership with the local TSI community and the University of Newcastle gave visitors the chance to immerse themselves in an Augmented Reality experience and education space.
The space helped the audience experience important cultural traditions such as language and Torres Strait Island connection to land, sea and sky.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said connecting with local communities and raising cultural awareness through art was important.
“WARWAR: The Art of Torres Strait was four years in the making, and we are thrilled that the most significant First Nations exhibition project in Newcastle Art Gallery’s 64-year history has received this national accolade,” Cr Nelmes said.
“To further strengthen our city’s ties to the local TSI community, we raised the TSI flag at City Hall for the first time in a special ceremony the week before the exhibition opened, and it now remains there permanently.”
Information source: Media release, City of Newcastle