BACKGROUND
The Deputy High Commissioner opened my solo exhibition in London, and the Australian Ambassador opened my solo exhibition in Dubai in 2004. The Queensland Government's Minister for Education and the Arts, at the time Hon Rod Welford, opened my exhibition in Abu Dhabi. I did not go to Seoul for the group show I was involved with, however the Australian Embassy, Austrade and the Queensland Government's Trade Office were involved. The Australian Ambassador was meant to open the group exhibition of Queensland artists I was involved with in Dubai 2005.
Mr Khalfan Asst Undersecrety Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, Hon Rod Welford Qld Minister for Educ & Arts, Kathryn Brimblecombe-Fox, Alan Lindberg GHD Abu Dhabi, Mr Al Amri Head
Opening of my exhibition in Abu Dhabi- I did not know there'd be a ribbon cutting until I got to the door!
I received an Arts Queensland grant for this exhibition. Also, Australian engineering company GHD provided some sponsorship.
I certainly appreciate the assistance I have been given, from VIP presences at openings to grants which contributed to funding a couple of my international activities.
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
But, particularly my experience in Abu Dhabi, has left me with a feeling that Australia's diplomatic entities miss many opportunities to extend, enhance and enjoy relationships with others, through cultural activities. I am talking about missed opportunties with regards to art's potency within what's called 'cultural diplomacy', to shift the borders of difference to reveal new perspectives, not only of others but of ourselves. Often called 'soft power' present day cultural diplomacy seems to be limited to a 'show and tell' attitude, where the flurry of opening night celebratons and photo ops cast aside very real opportunities to generate conversations, which are not agenda driven, and thus open new pathways for relationship and understanding. The cultural activity or event seems to become a mere backdrop... something nice to do... but from my own experience art [all arts] holds catalytic potential to propel people past superficial and/or self-interested agendas, to places where discovery of similarities cause differences to become less different.
ABU DHABI
In Abu Dhabi in 2005, I held a solo exhibition at the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation. In 2004, whilst my solo exhibition was on in Dubai, the Third Secretary, a remarkable young Australian woman, at the Australian Embassy introduced me to the the Foundation's Director of Arts. This first meeting was amazing. The remarkable young woman spoke fluent Arabic, plus both she and I knew the protocols for such meetings. When I presented the Director with my business card, which I had had translated into Arabic, he smiled broadly, commented appreciatively and over cups of tea my exhibition proposal was accepted.
The exhibition was held just before Christmas 2005. Unfortuantely, the remarkable multi-lingual young woman from the Australian Embassy had moved on to other parts of the world. I sat with the exhibition each day. This gave me incredible opportunities to engage with people who came to see the exhibition. And, there were lots of them! On a daily basis I had conversatons with people from all over the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe, plus a few westerners. The conversations I shared with those from the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe triggered by my paintings, have profoundly influenced me and my work.
As regular readers know, I use the transcultural/religious tree-of-life motif as my visual guide through distances both close and far. I use it to suggest literal and metaphoric multiple perspectives. The -tree-of-life needs no explanation...it is transcultural and religious after all....and the conversations I shared in 2005 in Abu Dhabi, very quickly bypassed superficiality and mundane commentary, because there was something to propel us beyond these locked gates. Men and women told me about their hopes, dreams and fears. I had men and women return a number of times to share stories with me and introduce me to other family members. I had a teacher who visited my show, return a few days later with her class of school children, and then a couple of these children return with their parents a day or so later.
WHAT DID I LEARN?
What did I learn? I learnt that conversation is a key element of any relationship. I learnt, that these people, who initially seemed so different to me, shared the same fundamental hopes and dreams for peace, environmental sustainability, friendship and understanding. I learnt that as we recognise the humanity in others, the 'other', seems less different and frightening. Signs of life, pulse and breath, do not recognise race, colour or religion. The urge for identity flourishes in a diversity of cultures and religions, yet the urge is shared human trait. I realised that prescribed agendas for hoped-for outcomes, limit possibility. I learnt that art is a powerful catalyst to enable open-ended conversation where possibility is limitless.
I also learnt that people who value their culture, look to see how others value their own cultures. So, for example, I discovered, through conversation, that the people who visited my exhibition wanted to see westerners value their own cultures. It was in the valuing or loving of culture that they look for a connection with others, not necessarily, or only, in the manifestation of performance or exhibition. I suspect many westerners don't really understand this. I suspect, also, that our 'show and tell' attitude, confuses those we aim to impress. Indeed, why do we need to impress? And, where does this need sit with regards to loaded terms like 'soft power'?
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
Many cultural activities, exhibitions, performances see individual artists and/or groups forge relationships with people in hosting countries. These activities are achieved with or without government funding, but often with sponsorship and normally with significant financial and time outlay from artists and/or their representive/s. Yet, from my own experience, and comments from other artists, the potential for broader and sustained cultural exchange, which could assist in building all kinds of relationships, is lost through a lack of understanding of arts' potential to provide encounters, beyond the opening night, that lead to new possibilities. And, I don't mean just a lack of funding, because sometimes it is not just about money, but more about listening and thinking divergently. Artists and arts organisations can and do think divergently but they need assistance to build upon relationships initiated in early exchange. By this I mean that whilst the internet may mean communication continues, the physical ability to return to perform or exhibit...and thus stimulate conversation.... is not be so easy. Often financial returns will not manifest for a number of years, yet relationships cannot have a 'value' placed upon them because their 'value' goes well beyond the monetry.
GLOBALISED WORLD
In this day and age, where we live locally in an increasingly globalised world, it is important that we are able to place ourselves in another's shoes, to attempt to understand varying points of view with compassion for ourselves and others. Invigorated cultural diplomacy that embraces meaningful and sustained exchange, explores partnerships and connections outside the norm, and expresses to others our love of our own culture, which then confidently invites sharing rather than 'showing and telling', is not about 'power', neither is it 'soft'. Rather it is confident and compassionate...and exciting!
Forever Connected Oil on linen 120 x 80 cm
PARADISE
This brings me to my current exhibition PARADISE. In my artist's statement I write, and please note the bold text:
The paintings in ‘Paradise’ explore interweaving notions of paradise; the story of Adam and Eve, paradise lost through intercultural misunderstanding and environmental decay, and ideas of paradise in cosmological postulations of multiple universes ‘out there’ which imply the potential for vastness within.
Paradise lost through intercultural misunderstanding: I hope having read all of the above you'll understand where some of my thoughts behind these words come from.
PARADISE ends on Saturday October 8. So, next week is the LAST WEEK! The exhibiton will be open from Tuesday to Saturday 11 am - 5 pm. Purgatory Artspace 170 Abbotsford St, North Melbourne. PH: 61 3 93291860 E: purgatoryartspace@gmail.com
Please also read: http://www.artabase.net/exhibition/3275-paradise and
http://www.thecultureconcept.com/circle/paradise-in-purgatory-kathryn-brimblecombe-fox-finding-light
And here's a link to my website online PARADISE gallery. All details including pricing are there.
Knowing Stillness Oil on linen 85 x 150 cm $5,300 AUD
Cheers,
Kathryn
Unlimited oil on linen 120 x 160 $7,300 AUD
Knowing Stillness oil on linen 85 x 150 cm $5,300 AUD
[These are 2011 prices]
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