"Torres Strait Exhibition starts national tour"
1999-07-30 until 1999-07-30
Cairns Regional Gallery
Cairns, , AU Australia

The first major exhibition of artworks by the indigenous people of the Torres Strait Islands is about to commence its national tour in Townsville. The tour of the Cairns Regional Gallery exhibition Ilan Pasin (This is our Way): Torres Strait Art will commence with an opening at 7.00pm on Friday 6 August 1999 at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery by Francis Tapim, Executive Officer of the Magani Malu Kes and Chairman of the National Secretariat of Torres Strait Islander Organisations.

The exhibition includes rare 19th century artefacts from Australian and overseas collections alongside the work of contemporary artists from the Torres Strait Islands. This major exhibition highlights the unique culture and artwork of Australia's other indigenous people for the first time, said Alice-Anne Boylan, Gallery Director of Cairns Regional Gallery. Visitors to this exhibition will discover the strength and vibrancy of the artistic traditions of the Torres Strait Islander people that have a unique relationship with Far North Queensland. This is definitely one of the most important art exhibitions touring Australia at the present time and shouldn't be missed by anyone with an interest in Australian indigenous art. Comprising over 100 works Ilan Pasin (This is our Way): Torres Strait Art has been developed by Torres Strait Islander curator Tom Mosby and artist Brian Robinson to explore issues of tradition, self and identity. The exhibition was shown at Cairns Regional Gallery from November 1998 until February 1999 and the tour will be seen at: _ Perc Tucker Gallery Regional Gallery, Townsville (August - September 1999) _ Ian Potter Museum of Art, Melbourne (November 1999) _ Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute (December 1999 - February 2000) _ Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane (April - June 2000) _ Campbelltown City Bicentennial Art Gallery, Sydney (September - October 2000) _ National Archives of Australia, Canberra (October - December 2000) Ilan Pasin (This is our Way): Torres Strait Art has been made possible by Visions of Australia, the Federal Government's national touring exhibitions program. The exhibition has also received support from Arts Queensland, ABC Radio Queensland, IBIS, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Museums Australia Qld, The Australia Council through the Regional Galleries Association of Queensland Exhibitions Development Fund, Torres Strait Seafood, QANTAS and Sunstate Airlines. Interviews: Brian Robinson, Assistant Curator on 07 4031 6865

Related Links:

Indepth Arts Resources for Australia

Other Important Exhibitions in Australia