8 November 2011

For immediate release

‘Message Stick’ launched

‘Message Stick: Indigenous Identity in Urban Australia’, a new touring Australian Indigenous visual arts exhibition was launched on Tuesday, 8th November 2011 in Port Moresby at the Australian High Commission Chancery.

The exhibition is produced by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in partnership with Artbank, and features a selection of significant work by eleven Indigenous artists living in urban areas throughout Australia. The images tell the stories of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures.

“We are excited to be able to bring ‘Message Stick’ to Port Moresby to showcase it to the people of Papua New Guinea. I invite everyone to come to the Australian High Commission to have a look at this very special collection,” Australian High Commissioner Ian Kemish AM, said.

He said Australia’s commitment to embracing and celebrating the world’s oldest living culture is demonstrated through DFAT’s long-running Indigenous visual arts touring program and this exhibition in particular.

The artworks in the exhibition are strongly influenced by the experiences of The Stolen Generations, however they also offer humour and optimism and a moving political and social perspective of Australian history.

‘Message Stick’ will be open to the general public in Port Moresby from Wednesday 9 November to Friday 9 December 2011 during working days from 9am to 3pm.

The exhibition has just finished a very successful showing in Honiara, Solomon Islands.