Shanghai, China: A spectacular short documentary film showcasing a group of Chinese and Australian women whose personal and professional lives reflect the Expo theme "Better City, Better Life" will be one of the must see exhibitions of the Australian pavilion.
To celebrate International Women's Day, the Australian pavilion today released a sneak preview of Sisters, a visually stunning and unique all-women production about women, which will feature in the pavilion's first act.
Highlighting the deep people to people links shared between Australia and China, Sisters tells the stories of 21 Australian and Chinese women whose work and dedication are making a real difference to their communities.
Sisters showcases the achievements of women who are leaders in their chosen fields of science, research and innovation, the environment, the charity world, business, the arts, and culture.
"This beautifully shot documentary highlights the similarities and shared experiences of women in Australia and China, and is a powerful example of how these women work to create sustainable futures for their communities. The stories these women tell are an inspiration to anyone who cares about their community," Commissioner-General for Australia, Lyndall Sachs said.
The preview introduced two of the women who feature in the film: Gulumbu Yunupingu is an Indigenous artist and women's leader from the Northern Territory and Manhau Zhu, a world renowned paper-cutting artist from Shandong.
The two women, despite living a world apart, share a passion for creating, preserving and sharing traditional art forms.
Gulumbu Yunupingu and Sisters producer, Annie Venables were on hand to discuss the documentary with the Chinese media.
Gulumbu Yunupingu is from the Yolngu people who live in Arnhem Land, in the Northern Territory of Australia. Yunupingu's art has been exhibited extensively around the world, and was the opening exhibit in the newly-restored $370 million Quai Branly Museum in Paris. Her work is also exhibited in the National Gallery of Australia. In 2004, Yunupingu won the 21st National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award for a piece entitled Garak, The Universe, which consists of three memorial poles, decorated in her own style, which combines traditional Yolngu designs with her own modern interpretation.
Sisters producer, renowned Australian filmmaker, Annie Venables filmed extensively in Australia and China with an all-female crew. "I was struck by the qualities that the women share: a passion for their work; a belief that they could make a difference and a stubborn determination to keep going no matter what," said Ms Venables.
Venables' work has focused on telling real life stories and she brings this experience to Sisters. Her recent credits include Ice Maidens, a documentary telling the story of four Australian mothers who travelled to the South Pole.
Sisters will be displayed on large-scale, high-tech diamond-shaped screens which wrap around the Act 1 ramp of the Australian Pavilion.