Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery in partnership with Multicultural Arts Victoria presents

Paradisaea Papuana

Traditional and Contemporary Art of West Papua and Papua New Guinea

Exhibition Dates: Monday 13th of February to Friday 30 of March 2012
Opening Event: Wednesday 15th of February, Time: 6.00pm (for a 6.30pm start)
Venue: Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery, 141 Queen St, Melbourne
Gallery hours: Monday to Saturday 10am - 5pm

Multicultural Arts Victoria in partnership with the Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery presents "Paradisaea Papuana" a shared exhibition by collector Robert Hewat and artist Vicky Kinai.

Flyer | Media Release

Contemporary art from Papua New Guinea and West Papua

Presenting traditional and contemporary art from Papua New Guinea and West Papua, Paradisaea Papuana draws inspiration and materials from the Paradisaea birds and other elements of the rich flora and fauna of the Island of New Guinea.

The exhibition offers a rare glimpse of the material expression of indigenous cosmology and contemporary worldviews.

The Hewats' passion for the culture from this region inspired them to develop a private collection of traditional and contemporary art from Papua New Guinea.

Robert and Sarah in collaboration with the Papuan NGO Cooperation Forum (FOKER-LSM), conceived TIFA (Trade in Fine Arts Network") that seeks to reinvigorate threatened art traditions & promote the development of contemporary arts in Indonesian West Papua & Papua New Guinea, whilst sustaining artists and their communities and conserving the cultural and natural resources from whence the inspiration and materials for their work are drawn.

Robert Hewat

As Robert's work has taken him all over West Papua and many parts of Papua New Guinea, he has carved time to search for local artists.

In his field trips across mountains, swamps, islands and meandering rivers Robert has been touched by the universality of the impulse to create and the aesthetic pleasures had from many items.

He has enjoyed conversations with Papuans artists about what drives their creative urges and about threatened art traditions, emerging styles and contemporary social issues.

Through return visits and ongoing patronage, long-term relationships have been built with artists, their families and their communities.

Vicki Kinai

Vicki Kinai was born in PNG and learnt the craft of 'bilum' making before her schooling began.

Used to store or carry items, billums can hold a high value due to the intricate process involved in their creation. Stunning designs can be made using colourful wool.

The artworks presented in this exhibition include: string bags, baskets and carved bowls, shields, arrows and spears, carved shields, ancestral figures, statues and poles, spirit boats, drums, bride wealth items, traditional bark cloth, contemporary canvas paintings and photography's.

Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery

This exhibition is presented in partnership by Multicultural Arts Victoria and Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery.

This ongoing partnership aims to build social cohesion and harmony by celebrating the rich cultural and artistic traditions of Victoria's many ethnic communities.

Media Enquiries

For further enquiries please call Trinidad Estay on 03 9188 3681 or email fiesta@multiculturalarts.com.au