Brisbane City Council helps street artists

ART

By GIMA SEGORE
AN UPCOMING exhibition of artworks by the street artists of Port Moresby has won support from Brisbane City Council in the form of a $3,000 (K6,850) grant that will help meet the cost of gallery hire for the three weeks duration of the exhibition.
Building on the success of previous exhibitions curated by Royal Queensland Art Society (RQAS) member Don Wotton in 2017 and 2018, in support of Port Moresby’s street artists, this year’s exhibition is certain to attract wide interest among the greater Brisbane community.
With early acceptances to an opening night function already received from the Queensland Director of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the French Chamber of Commerce (Brisbane chapter) the exhibition is a great opportunity for Port Moresby’s street artists to showcase their talents.
The exhibition helps visiting PNG artists build professional links with their Australian counterparts, expand the market for their artworks and also create international interest in PNG’s developing tourism industry.
The ‘Paradise Palette’ exhibition opening at the RQAS Petrie Terrace Gallery at 3/162 Petrie Terrace, Brisbane on Aug 27 through Sept 16 promises to be a kaleidoscopic explosion of colour and culture.
The artworks of over 45 artists, the majority of whom are self-taught, will be on display. Among the exhibiting artists are Elisabet Kauage, Winnie Veova, Jane Wena, Ambane Siune, Harry Manavi, Nombri Temine, John Bom, Gigs Wena, Peter Wena, Michael Kauage, Clement Koys, Bruce Gei, Kenya Siune and James Kel.
Professional artists, including Albert Ipu, Gima Segore and Laben John Sakale will be in attendance during the exhibition to share their talents, culture and life stories with visitors to the gallery.
A key feature of the exhibition will be a display of decorative tapa cloth from Oro Province, situated along the northern route of the infamous Kokoda Trail.
Learn the process of tapa cloth manufacture, and the cultural importance and significance of the tribal designs that adorn the cloth, from Rodrick Vana who will be presenting regular demonstrations during the course of the exhibition.
Meanwhile Bagam Isai and Nancy Qwarame will be on hand to demonstrate the techniques for knotting bilums, Papua New Guinea’s ubiquitous string bags and baby hammocks.
Visitors to the gallery will be energised by the vibrancy and momentum captured in the paintings produced by Port Moresby’s street artists.
The exhibition will be open daily from 9am-5pm with after hour viewings for groups of five or more by appointment.