The Territory will be on show at a specialinternational exhibition in Shenzhen China showcasing the work of Australias great barkpainters.
The Old Masters: Australias Great Bark Artistsexhibition includes Aboriginal artists from Arnhem Land who carried oneof the oldest continuing visual arts traditions into the modern era.
The Territory Labor Government is investing $106million to build a nationally significant Arts Trail throughout the Territory,to support and grow our arts and cultural industry, and provide new andenhanced attractions for national and international visitors. The Territorys rich art and culture is a majordrawcard for national and international tourists, and a key economic driver.
The National Museum of Australia is delivering the exhibition with support fromAustrade. The exhibition has been travellingthrough China since July last year, when itopened at the National Museum of China in Beijing.
The exhibition is part of a cultural exchangebetween Australia and China facilitated by the National Museum of Australia,where iconic works of art are shared. An exhibition of traditional Chinesepaintings will also travel to Australia in 2019.
The Old Masters: Australias Great BarkArtists exhibition will feature works from John Mawurndjul AM, ManingridaArts & Culture.
Mawurndjul's work has also featured in New Yorkand Chicago as part of the exhibition Dreamings: The Art of AboriginalAustralia, as well as exhibitions in Japan,Germany, London and Denmark. He is also a previous Telstra Indigenous Art Awardwinner.
Exhibition dates:
Shenzen Museum 13 Aprilto 2 June 2019
SichuanMuseum, 22 June to 26 August 2019
NationalTaiwan Museum, 4 October 2019 to 9 February 2020
As stated by Minister for Tourism, Sport andCulture Lauren Moss:
The Territorys rich art and culture is a majordrawcard for national and international tourists,and a key economic driver.
Our latest tourism campaign is all aboutpromoting the Northern Territory as The worlds biggest art gallery.
Greater China continues to be an importantsource market for the Territory with the latest Tourism Research Australiafigures indicating that more than 27,000 visitors came to the Territory during2018. These numbers are showing direct flights fromShenzhen are having a positive impact.
The new Arnhem Land bark exhibition willfurther promote the Northern Territory as a holiday destination for Chinesetravellers.
As stated by National Museum of AustraliaDirector Dr Mathew Trinca
This delicate and beautiful collection ofArnhem Land bark paintings is one of Australias great cultural treasures andthe National Museum of Australia is delighted to share them with Chineseaudiences.
