Waverley Council and Settlement Services International (SSI) are inviting the community to attend a free event, Taking Another Look, with artists Emmanuel Asante and Shiva Dadvar at Bondi Pavilion on Saturday 11 March at 5.30pm.
Emmanuel and Shiva (pictured- below) were selected last year as part of the Council's inaugural United to End Racism Art Competition to create two murals along the beach promenade.
Both artists are supported by the SSI's Arts & Culture program. Waverley Council has partnered with SSI on several projects aimed at helping refugees, including children and families, experience a taste of their new life in Australia. In 2021, Council hosted a welcome picnic at Bondi Beach for a large number of Afghani families and individuals who needed to be evacuated from their home country following political and civil unrest.
Emmanuel, from Ghana, West Africa, began painting and drawing to help her deal with depression and personal experiences. He arrived in Australia in 2015 and works as a casual high school teacher. His art is highly influenced by his culture, Frida Kahlo and his artist mentor Abdul Abdullah. He contributed to several art projects at Addison Road Community Centre, Marrickville, Liverpool City Council and Headspace Campbelltown.
Iranian (Persian) artist Shiva Dadvar began to paint, create, and sell commissioned artworks in her teens. Due to religious discrimination, she could not study art in her home country. She is now completing her arts studies at TAFE NSW and took part in last year's SSI's Inner West Refugee exhibition at Callan Park.
Mayor of Waverley, Paula Masselos, said the event was an opportunity for residents to gain a wider understanding of the challenges facing newly arrived in Australia and how art can break down barriers.
"Waverley Council is delighted to welcome Emmanuel and Shiva to our home by the sea and for their artworks to be enjoyed by our millions of visitors," Mayor Masselos said.
"They have made unique contributions on the Bondi Sea Wall, and I can't wait to hear their personal stories."
The Taking Another Look panel discussion will be lead by artist and author, Kiri Zakinthinos, whose driving purpose is a desire for a fairer, more inclusive, more democratic cultural landscape, which reflects our plurality of cultures and lived experiences. It will be held at 5.30pm in the Seagull Room, level 1, Bondi Pavilion.
Want to be a part of our United to End Racism Art Competition? Enter now at: https://haveyoursay.waverley.nsw.gov.au/unitedtoendracism.
Waverley Council is committed to building a welcoming, cohesive and resilient community where people of all cultural backgrounds can belong and participate in Waverley's social, cultural, economic and civic life. To support this, we have a Multicultural Advisory Committee which contributes to the development, implementation, and review of our Cultural Diversity Strategy.
