Our Way on show to the world

Contemporary Aboriginal art from Lockhart River will be on show to the world when UQ’s Our Way exhibition begins an international tour this week.

Australian High Commissioner His Excellency Miles Kupa will officially launch the exhibition at the National University of Singapore (NUS) on Thursday July 19, with the artworks also touring to New York later in the year.

The exhibition contains 41 pieces from a group of painters formerly known as the Art Gang, including eight new works not seen in the original Brisbane showing which was viewed by over 5000 people.

“Our Way celebrates the extraordinary achievement of young artists from a remote Aboriginal community in Queensland’s Cape York, many of whom were teenagers when their talent was discovered,” UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay, AC said.

“By hosting the exhibition NUS is becoming part of one of the most exciting new movements to be seen in contemporary Australian art in decades. Audiences for this show will understand why some of the artists are winning international acclaim.”

The survey includes pieces by Rosella Namok, Fiona Omeenyo and Samantha Hobson, who offer unique perspectives on their home in Sandbeach Country, 800km north of Cairns.

“We are honoured to host Our Way, and look forward to sharing the inspiring stories and work of these artists with our viewers,” Director of the NUS Centre for the Arts Christine Khor said.

“This exhibition is not only a spectacular display of contemporary Indigenous art, but a colourful insight into Australia’s cultural diversity.”

Our Way is part of the University of Queensland’s year of focus on Indigenous issues, with the Singapore showing coinciding with the annual NUS Racial Harmony Day.

The artworks are accompanied by a book of the same name by Dr Sally Butler, a UQ lecturer in Art History and curator of the exhibition.

Co-sponsored by UQ and the State and Federal Governments, Our Way: Contemporary Aboriginal Art from Lockhart River will appear in Singapore from July 20 to August 19 before arriving in New York in October.

Media: Erica Fryberg (07 3365 7952, e.fryberg@uq.edu.au), Jean Chew at NUS (+65 6516 2497, jean@nus.edu.sg) or Cameron Pegg at UQ Communications (07 3365 2049, c.pegg@uq.edu.au)

High resolution images of the artworks can be downloaded here. For further photographic enquiries contact Diana Lilley (07 3365 2753, d.lilley@uq.edu.au)