Shanghai: As the Australian pavilion nears completion, it has unveiled 'Bedrock', the first exhibit visitors will experience when they enter the pavilion's "Act One".
"This stunning exhibit, designed by artists from Maningrida Arts and Culture in the Northern Territory, is designed to introduce our visitors to Australia's indigenous culture," said Lyndall Sachs, Commissioner-General for Australia.
Ms Sachs visited the Australian pavilion last week, meeting two of the artists who have come to Shanghai from a remote coastal region of the Northern Territory to install the exhibition.
"Bedrock demonstrates a unique fusion of Australian traditional and contemporary art forms, and pays tribute to the important role indigenous art plays in Australia's rich culture" she said.
"Upon entering the exhibition area, visitors will be impressed by the large scale indigenous wall artwork. Within the exhibition space, thirty mimih* poles, carved in timber and cast in resin and steel, represent the tall, slender spirits from the rocky environment of the Arnhem Land plateau," she said
"A school of fish, cast in metal from traditional woven forms, and fibre-woven 'yawk yawks' or female water spirits are suspended above the exhibition space. The sounds of Arnhem land - voices and music - will help immerse visitors in the land where these beautiful artworks were created"
The artists spoke with Ms Sachs about their work, which uses skills passed on from their fathers, and their designs, inspired by the rugged and dramatic coastal landscape of their Arnhem Land home.
"'Bedrock' reflects the inter-relationship between land and water, which is a recurring theme in Australian history and culture, and in our response to the expo's 'Better City, Better Life' theme," said Ms Sachs.
The Maningrida people come from coastal Northern Australia. Maningrida Arts & Culture is based about 500 kilometres east of Darwin and produces both contemporary and traditional work. It is renowned for its quality, innovation, vibrancy and diversity, largely attributed to the eight different language groups living within the Maningrida community.
(* Pronounced mee-mee)