MONACO.- Australia: Defending the Oceans at the Heart of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Art is a major survey of contemporary artworks by Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander artists to be hosted in the world renowned Oceanographic Museum of Monaco in Europe this year, as part of the exhibition “Taba Naba – Australia, Oceania, Arts of the Sea People”. Running 24 March to 30 September 2016, this innovative project is ambitious in both scale and intent. Comprising works by 50 artists from across Australia’s east and north coasts, it will fill the Museum’s three floors including the rooftop terrace where a 670 square metre installation will be seen against a spectacular backdrop of Monaco and the Mediterranean Sea. As well as providing a prestigious international platform to showcase the artworks to a global arts audience, the survey is designed to promote the urgent need to preserve Australia’s coastlines, reefs and oceans from further environmental damage.

The ambitious display Australia: Defending the Oceans at the Heart of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Art brings together 50 artists of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage. This installation presents six site specific projects across three floors, including artworks inside and outside the Museum walls. High profile Australian artists presenting work include Alick Tipoti of Badu (‘Mulgrave Island’), Brian Robinson of Waiben (‘Thursday Island’), and Sydney artist Jason Christopher who is working with Ken Thaiday Snr of Erub (‘Darnley Island’). As well, a number of artists from remote communities will also present works, including Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre (North Queensland), Erub Arts (Torres Strait, Queensland), Pormpuraaw Art Centre (Cape York, Queensland) and Ceduna Arts and Cultural Centre South Australia (South Australia). Together the artists provide a visually spectacular showcase of contemporary Australian art. They also paint a vivid picture of the cultural revival which has been building momentum in the Torres Strait this decade, and which is seeing next generation artists invigorate old world traditions with new world artistic practices.

Defending the Oceans will sit alongside two other exhibitions as part of “Taba Naba”. Living Waters which presents contemporary works by Aboriginal artists from central desert regions and Oceania Islanders: Past Masters in Navigation and Artistic Expression, which explores the connection to the sea shared by Pacific Islanders. Together the three form a powerful reminder of the seafaring traditions of island communities that have cared for our oceans for millennia. Through their works and their world vision, these artists hope to raise awareness about the dangers of pollution affecting the oceans. “Taba Naba – Australia, Oceania, Arts of the Sea People” is by far the most complete and ambitious project ever undertaken on this subject by Indigenous artists in Europe.

The exhibitions will be officially opened by H.S.H. Prince Albert II at a private opening event. An active patron of contemporary art and environmental preservation, his great great grandfather founded the Oceanographic Museum in 1910. The Museum has a spectacular façade, set above a sheer cliff face 90 metres above sea level. It took 11 years to build, and today houses an extraordinary collection of marine species and maritime objects including an award-wining aquarium which holds four thousand tropical fish. The Museum is celebrated for its progressive approach to environmental awareness, and the promotion of marine sustainability. It also plays a key role in promoting contemporary art. Every year since 2010, major artists have been invited to present works on ocean themes: Damien Hirst, Huang Yong Ping, Mark Dion and Marc Quinn have all exhibited within its walls or forecourt area in the past decade. The Oceanographic Museum’s reputation for excellence and its world famous aquarium have made it one of the most visited museums in Europe.

More than 500,000 people are expected to visit the Museum this summer. Many of the artists presenting work will travel to Monaco for the exhibition opening, some of whom have never previously travelled outside Australia. As well, the Monaco project will stretch to the Musée des Confluences in Lyon where extra public programs will be staged to coincide with the Monaco exhibitions, including a special dance performance on 26 March. These events will extend the project’s impact throughout the south of France and Europe generally.

This exhibition is a collaborative vision of many. It is being project managed by Aboriginal art specialist and Director of the Arts d’Australie gallery in Paris, Stéphane Jacob, in partnership with the Project Co-ordinator in Australia, Suzanne O’Connell, Director of the Suzanne O’Connell Gallery, Australian Indigenous Art, Brisbane, Australia. Jacob says the project will be a game changing event for all of the artists involved. ‘For many of these artists, this is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have their work seen in a museum of this cultural and historical significance. More than 500,000 people will attend the exhibition, many of whom are influential art collectors or curators from across Europe and the world. Following the success of the Musée du quai Branly opening in Paris, this is the next vital step to building momentum and raising the profile of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island artists in Europe, as well as further strengthening cultural ties between Australia, Monaco and France.’ Jacob says the artists are thrilled to not only be showing their work on a global platform, but especially by the opportunity to draw attention to their precious ocean environments. ‘For many of these artists, the challenge and objective is the same: the oceans must be protected. The artists are committed to sharing knowledge about the oceans, and finding innovative solutions to the dangers that threaten them,’ he said.

‘When Stephane and I met with the director and curator of the Museum last April to discuss the project, it was quite apparent to me the artwork created by our Queensland and Torres Strait artists would be the obvious choice to headline the exhibition. These important artworks remind us of the beauty of nature, and the devastation caused by the universal issue of pollution in oceans around the world,’ said Associate Curator Suzanne O’Connell.

A spokesperson for the Oceanographic Museum agrees the exhibition is a perfect way to raise awareness of the artists’ environmental concerns. ‘With three artistic universes and taking over the whole of the Oceanographic Museum, the TABA NABA exhibition claims an ambitious positioning and delivers a strong message to the public,’ says Robert Calcagno, CEO of the Oceanographic Institute. ‘Here we are presenting the art of peoples who have remained in contact and in dialogue with nature, combining ancient tradition and modernity. These peoples live and breathe the culture of the ocean in a healthy and balanced inter-relationship that can and should inspire us,’ he said.

‘CREATIVEMOVE is proud to see the remarkable and innovative work of Brian Robinson and the other artists in this ground-breaking exhibition. Not only is it an honour for Brian to be presented by such a prestigious museum in Europe, but it will enable curators, collectors and diverse audiences to appreciate his incredibly high-calibre work. This exhibition will allow the stories of our Indigenous artists to speak directly to European audiences. The thrill of experiencing these works will open up new opportunities and continue to drive these audiences down under to boost our state and national tourism efforts,’ said John Stafford Director of CREATIVEMOVE.

Together the artworks presented in Defending the Oceans will provide a dynamic and diverse showcase of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. From the minute visitors arrive in the Museum forecourt, they will be greeted by striking artworks. An eclectic showcase of Bagu sculptures created by artists from Girringun Art Centre will fill the impressive forecourt of the museum. Artist Brian Robinson will cover the museum façade with his bold, contemporary installation of Malu Githalal (Ocean Crabs). Continuing Robinson’s exploration of Torres Strait tradition, motifs and culture, his installation will dramatically alter the museum exterior as three of his four metre wide aluminium mud crabs will cling to the Musuem’s façade columns. Inside the Museum, artist Alick Tipoti will present a dramatic bronze and aluminium Dugong sculpture in the gallery entrance to reflect the sea creature’s importance to the Torres Strait islander people.

In the heart of the museum, artists from Erub Art Centre and Pormpuraaw Art and Culture Centre in far North Queensland along with Ceduna Arts and Cultural Centre from South Australia will present a striking installation of 30 plus ghost net sculptures reflecting local marine life. Positioned around a large bait ball, a turtle, shark and numerous large surface feeding fish swim. Also included is a large whale, crocodile, dugong and a shovel nose ray. An island canoe glides above the installation creating a link between ancient and modern hunting methods, highlighting changing perspectives on fishing. The works have been crafted from discarded fishing nets, which are a dangerous side effect of commercial fishing and pose an environmental threat to marine flora and fauna.The Ghost Net installation brings together artists from Erub Arts Centre, Pormpuraaw Art and Culture Centre, Ceduna Arts and Cultural Centre. Artists come from Northern Queensland, the Torres Strait and South Australia. The central exhibition will be completed by a spectacular three headdress (or ‘dhari’) installation by renowned artist Ken Thaiday Snr, in collaboration with Sydney artist Jason Christopher. Stretching over six meters high, the central work will be the largest ever created by the veteran artist and Torres Strait elder. On the Museum’s rooftop terrace, Alick Tipoti will also install a 670 square metre stencil floor work representing a giant Sea Turtle incorporating in the design other fauna and flora of cultural importance to the artist. One of the largest works ever made by a Torres Strait Island artist, the installation will be set against a stunning backdrop of views over Monaco city and the Mediterranean Sea on the rooftop which sits on a cliff face 90 metres above sea level. The artwork will be visible to passengers flying over Monaco daily.