SYDNEY.- This winter
Casula Powerhouse Art Centre presents a landmark exhibition Refugees bringing together more than 65 works by 22 world-renowned artists - including Yoko Ono, Ai Wei Wei and Anish Kapoor - each of whom share a refugee background. Presented free to the public from 29 July to 11 September 2016, Refugees is the first time these important works by some of the world’s most well-known artists have been seen in Western Sydney.
Drawing upon the past 120 years of artistic practice, featuring modern and contemporary work that spans several continents and conflicts, Refugees and its associated public programs offer a powerful contribution to this highly politicised subject matter. More than 65 works from major public and private collections across Australia are being presented together with new works commissioned for the exhibition by Australian artists Guo Jian and Ah Xian. Guo Jian’s commissioned work is a vast 10 metre long photographic collage inspired by a visit to his home village in China; whilst Ah Xian has created a performance work responding to his experience of seeking refuge, being performed on opening night.
Curator of the exhibition, Toni Bailey said: “This exhibition not only tells the stories of these significant artists with refugee backgrounds but will reflect the achievements and contributions of refugees to our community as a whole. By acknowledging the invaluable contributions of these artists who share a refugee background, Refugees provides a context to discuss the often-misunderstood plight of asylum seekers.”
The exhibition seeks to stimulate discussion around the contentious issue and work towards humanizing the current refugee crisis. Yoko Ono was exiled from Tokyo during the great fire-bombing of March 9, 1945 and sheltered with other family members in a bunker; whilst Frank Auerbach was seven years old his parents sent him by train to the UK after which they died in concentration camps.
Dinh Q. Le escaped the Khmer Rouge in 1978 when he was ten years old, Max Ernst was arrested by the Gestapo but managed to escape with the help of Peggy Guggenheim and Khadim Ali was raised in exile in Pakistan, his grandparents had escaped a massacre of Hazaras in Afghanistan.
Liverpool City Council Mayor Ned Mannoun comments: “As more migrant and refugee communities are now calling Liverpool their new home, Liverpool aims to lead the way in social cohesion and community harmony initiatives. The rich cultural diversity increases innovation, creativity and prosperity. It introduces new ways of thinking, beliefs and interests in the community. The Refugees exhibition will be a powerful mechanism in engaging the community through the exhibition, public programs and national forum.”
Acting Director of Casula Powerhouse Nikita Karvounis says: “Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre acts as a cultural hub for the diverse cultures living in South West Sydney. Part of our brief is to engage and produce festivals and events in consultation with a broad range of cultural groups some of which include: The Iraqi Cultural Festival, Afro Latino Festival, Refugee Artist Markets and the Italian Film Festival. We are thrilled to have this important collection of works of art on show at Casula Powerhouse and look forward to the extensive public programs both prepared by and for our diverse community.”
Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, in Sydney’s southwest, is located in one of the most diverse local government areas in Australia with 40% of the population born overseas and over 150 languages spoken. On 9 September 2015 the Australian Government announced it would accept an additional 12,000 humanitarian entrants displaced by the conflict in Syria. NSW and in particular Liverpool and Fairfield LGA are set to receive almost half of the total refugee intake
