As refugee communities across Queensland celebrate World Refugee week, the Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre (BEMAC) and South Bank Parklands joined forces to erect a tangible acknowledgement of the contributions of those communities to our beautiful city. On World Refugee Day on the 20th of June, four permanent sandstone sculptures were unveiled at a small celebration in the Cultural Forecourt of the South Bank Parklands.
This installation is the culmination of a year long project with artists, Karen Shapcott, Catriona Holland, Candy Soller and Pete Mac Farline working with young people from a range of Brisbane communities, exploring identity through visual art. This community engagement process identified 3 incredibly talented young people who have a passion to pursue visual art in a more focused way; Amhad Shah Nazari ( Afghanistan ), Samsun Joseph ( Sudan ) and Amal Suleman ( Sudan ). Further workshops were spent with these 3 young people, identifying what THEY felt were important aspects of their stories.
The artwork represents ‘Memory Boxes and suitcases’ that convey the stories, memories, hopes and dreams of three refugee students that have undertaken remarkable journeys to become valued members of our community. The four pillars follow the stories of each young person, from their childhoods in far off homelands to their dreams for the future in Brisbane , from their childhoods in their country of origin to exile, transit and finally life in Australia and their bright futures.
This installation isthe first example of art representing multiculturalism in the South Bank Parklands, and the work not only provides a voice to the experiences of our refugee community members, but will hopefully also encourage understanding in the greater community. The installation acknowledges the contribution of refugee and migrant communities in Queensland and the vibrant diversity they bring to the social, cultural and artistic fabric of Queensland .
Funded through Arts Queensland's art+place program, the works were one of the outcomes of BEMAC's One 4 All project, an Australia Council for the Arts funded, Art in a Multicultural Australia initiative. This 3 year project works with young people from diverse cultural backgrounds, such as Indigenous, Pacific Island , Iranian, Afghani, Sudanese and Somalian; using various art forms as a means of exploring identity and culture in the context of their past, present and futures as new Australians.
This visual art component of the project sits alongside a music development program and concert with facilitator and Brisbane musician, Roz Papalardo of Women in Docs; to be held at the Brisbane Powerhouse on the 16th October this year.
For more information about the installation, the artists and young people, please contact Jo Pratt, the Director of BEMAC on 07-33914433 or 0404 602 081.
This installation is the culmination of a year long project with artists, Karen Shapcott, Catriona Holland, Candy Soller and Pete Mac Farline working with young people from a range of Brisbane communities, exploring identity through visual art. This community engagement process identified 3 incredibly talented young people who have a passion to pursue visual art in a more focused way; Amhad Shah Nazari ( Afghanistan ), Samsun Joseph ( Sudan ) and Amal Suleman ( Sudan ). Further workshops were spent with these 3 young people, identifying what THEY felt were important aspects of their stories.
The artwork represents ‘Memory Boxes and suitcases’ that convey the stories, memories, hopes and dreams of three refugee students that have undertaken remarkable journeys to become valued members of our community. The four pillars follow the stories of each young person, from their childhoods in far off homelands to their dreams for the future in Brisbane , from their childhoods in their country of origin to exile, transit and finally life in Australia and their bright futures.
This installation isthe first example of art representing multiculturalism in the South Bank Parklands, and the work not only provides a voice to the experiences of our refugee community members, but will hopefully also encourage understanding in the greater community. The installation acknowledges the contribution of refugee and migrant communities in Queensland and the vibrant diversity they bring to the social, cultural and artistic fabric of Queensland .
Funded through Arts Queensland's art+place program, the works were one of the outcomes of BEMAC's One 4 All project, an Australia Council for the Arts funded, Art in a Multicultural Australia initiative. This 3 year project works with young people from diverse cultural backgrounds, such as Indigenous, Pacific Island , Iranian, Afghani, Sudanese and Somalian; using various art forms as a means of exploring identity and culture in the context of their past, present and futures as new Australians.
This visual art component of the project sits alongside a music development program and concert with facilitator and Brisbane musician, Roz Papalardo of Women in Docs; to be held at the Brisbane Powerhouse on the 16th October this year.
For more information about the installation, the artists and young people, please contact Jo Pratt, the Director of BEMAC on 07-33914433 or 0404 602 081.
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