ABORIGINAL ART

Mythology & Reality: Contemporary Australian Aboriginal Desert Art
from the Gabrielle Pizzi Collection was launched at the Jerusalem Theatre Gallery on Tuesday October 21.

Presented by the Australia Israel Cultural Exchange, it is the first large exhibition of its kind in Israel, with 79 pieces by 24 artists, including Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri and Emily Kngwarreye.

The works are on show at the Jerusalem Theatre Gallery until December 19.

Speakers at the launch were introduced by AICE Chairman Albert Dadon, and included Australia's ambassador to Israel Tim George, Israel's Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Pratt Foundation CEO Sam Lipski and Gabrielle Pizzi.

The proceedings included a taped video message from Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer.

An estimated two hundred thousand people will see the exhibition, making it one of the year's major events on the Israel cultural calendar.

The exhibition represents one of the best collections of Aboriginal art in private hands in the world.

All the artists represented are of major significance:

Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri was the first indigenous Australian to win the Alice Prize (1983)

Emily Kngwarreye represented Australia at the Venice Bienale (1997)

Many artists are recipients of the Telstra National Aboriginal Award or the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award.

As well, many of the works featured from the collection have been previously exhibited in major galleries and art museums around the world:

Pansy Napangati featured in the ground-breaking Aratjara: Art of the First Australians (Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf; Hayward Gallery, London );

Fred Ward was shown in Cross-Roads: Towards A New Reality ( Kyoto and Tokyo ) as well as Papunya Tula: Genesis and Genius (Sydney 2000):

Clifford Possum's Lungkata was exhibited at the Institute of Contemporary Art, London (1988).

With support from the Pratt Foundation and the Besen Family Foundation, AICE is collaborating with the Israel Museum, Jerusalem in presenting this unique work of extraordinary power and sensitivity to an Israeli audience.

AICE is a privately funded organisation established through a Joint Declaration between the governments of the two countries at the end of 2002.

It has been set up to activate and focus on positive interchanges via cultural exchange between Israel and Australia .

‘The relationship between the two countries has always been warm and strong. Across the political spectrum successive leaders have endeavoured to expand, develop and enrich the many links.

The creation of AICE adds depth to this relationship. What better way to launch the organisation in Israel than through this exhibition of contemporary indigenous work? It is unique to Australia . Global interest in the art is rising exponentially even as the final arrangements for the exhibition are being made.

Little is known in Israel about Aboriginal art. We believe this landmark exhibition will change that, and, by doing so, increase awareness and interest in Australia in all its diversity.'

(Albert Dadon : Chairman – AICE)