Russel James recently travelled to the Australian outback and shot landscape photographs of burial grounds, gorges, and other areas of import to Aboriginal spiritual practices. He then invited Aboriginal artists to paint on the prints, and the resulting pieces will be on display. Black Eyed Peas support the exhibition: watch their aboriginal welcome video in Australia here

 

NOMAD TWO WORLDS kicked off its Australian activities in the Virgin Lounge at Sydney airport on September 28, 2009. Created by photographer Russell James, with Indigenous Australian artist Clifton Bieundurry and others, the collaborative art project is a stunning example of reconciliation and true cultural collaboration in action, inspired by the Australian reconciliation movement (initiated by Australian Prime Minister kevin Rudd's apology speech in February 2008) between its modern western culture that settled there some two hundred years ago and its Aboriginal people, the world's oldest surviving culture.

The project has involved years of groundwork, including travel to remote regions of North Western Australia. In the spirit of reconciliation, senior Indigenous custodians provided access to sites of great cultural significance to the aboriginal people.  Burial grounds, gorges, stunning coastlines and desert locations-often restricted and secret-were allowed to be photographed and filmed by Mr. James. The photographs were then reproduced to become oversized canvases for indigenous artists such as Clifton Bieundurry who then painted ‘story’ into the images; legends and concepts that relate directly to the image on the photographic canvas. The result, an unprecedented artistic collaboration of hand embellished art photographs that form the heart of Nomad Two Worlds installation.  Three short films by Mr. James  also provide a glimpse of his broader Nomad Two Worlds project thematic: INNOCENCE, INHIBITION and DISCOVERY as the three stages of cultural collision are explored: the past, the present and potential future outcomes through meaningful reconciliation.

A number of extraordinary people are involved in the project including Hugh and Deborra-Lee Jackman, who hosted the exhibition's star-studded opening night festivities in january in New York City, Baz Lurhman, Donna Karan and Grammy award winning artist willi.iam and the rest of the Black Eyed Peas.

 

Lisa Fox and Heloise Waislitz will be hosting the Nomad Two Worlds Exhibit Preview event in Melbourne Australia on October 8, 2009.  Public viewing and an educational speaker day will follow at the Metro Gallery in Armadale VIC on October 11 and 12, with kids educational activities being hosted by Indigenous organization Koorie Heritage Trust at their community center on October 10 and 11.

 

Start Date Oct 11 2009 - End Date Oct 12 2009

When: Start 10:00 AM Ends 03:30 PM

Where 1214 High St., Armadal, Victoria, Australia (South East Melbourne)