Produced and presented by: Multicultural Arts Victoria

Talanoa; Walk the Talk VII @ Emerge Festival

13 May - 25 June, 2010

Shigeyuki Kihara

Commissioned by Multicultural Arts Victoria, a cultural dialogue between: Dambai Dancing Group, Te roro n rikirake Kiribati Youth Group and Shigeyuki Kihara

Talanoa

Commissioned by Multicultural Arts Victoria this exciting project will see renowned international Japanese/ Samoan artist Shigeyuki Kihara embarking on her seventh Talanoa: Walk the Talk project in May - June 2010 in Melbourne.

An ancient Samoan concept applied in a inspiring new way, talanoa is a practice of talking through matters of cultural and social importance.

During a two month residency in Melbourne, Kihara will work collaboratively with two very different cultural groups, the Dambai Dancing Sudan Group and Te Roro n Rikirake Kiribati Youth Group, to facilitate a new dialogue between two of Melbourne's newest communities.

Dambai Dancing Sudan Group and Te Roro n Rikirake Kiribati Youth Group

The project will result in a series of unique performances and events.

Sunday 30 May - Culture Court Public Performance at the NGV

3pm NGV International 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne (Reconciliation Week) - Free

An exploration of the intersection between Art, Culture and Commerce. For this performance Kihara collaborates with some of the communities supported by Multicultural Arts Victoria.

Monday 31 May - NGV Talks with Shigeyuki Kihara

(Reconciliation Week), 11am @ The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Federation Square corner Russell and Flinders Street, Melbourne - Free

Shigeyuki Kihara discusses the issues raised in Culture Court

Sunday 20 June - Talanoa Performance

2pm FREE @ Emerge Festival Main Event

Talanoa Performance includes Dambai Dancing Group of Sudan, Te Roro n Rikirake Kiribati Youth Group, Shigeyuki Kihara.

Tuesday 22 June - Talanoa Forum: Art, Community and Social Function

3-6 pm FREE @ Federation Hall VCAM, Grant Street, Southbank

A forum on creating art that activates and serves a social function with reflection on the Talanoa; Walk the Talk VII experience. With Sudanese and Kiribati community leaders, Shigeyuki Kihara and guest speakers. Performances by Dambai Dance Group & Te roro n ririrake Kiribati Dance Group

Shigeyuki Kihara

Shigeyuki Kihara is an internationally acclaimed Inter-disciplinary artist based in New Zealand.

Kihara's work is based on an investigative research relating to the Indigenous cultures of the Pacific, and more specifically to Samoan culture, history and spirituality.

Kihara's practice explores the intersection between Art, Performance and Theatre.

Kihara represented New Zealand at the fourth Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art in Brisbane and currently represented in fourth Auckland Triennial, New Zealand.

Kihara's first solo museum exhibition in North America entitled Shigeyuki Kihara; Living Photographs was recently presented at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York in 2008 following the acquisition of her work by the museum.

'When people walk away from the performance I hope they look at and experience things in a different way and are inspired to talanoa with someone outside'. Shigeyuki Kihara

Principal Sponsor

Festivals Australia

Partners and Supporters

National Gallery of Victoria, The Wilin Centre - Faculty of the VCA and Music- The University of Melbourne, The Substation, Hobsons Bay City Council, AAAPS, Merethan Vision, New-Zealand Maori Polynesian Welfare Support Group Inc.

More Information

For info or to arrange interviews please contact: Claudia Escobar 9417 6777, 0449 163 753 or Email development@multiculturalarts.com.au