Wansolwara Exhibition Explores Pacific Kinship and Colonial Legacies Across Two Sydney Venues
The exhibition titled Wansolwara: One Salt Water will be held at UNSW Galleries and the 4A Centre for Contemporary Art in Sydney from January 17 to March 29, 2020. Showcasing the work of 20 contemporary artists from Oceania and the Pacific, it challenges colonial geographical classifications by suggesting a seamless waterscape that links various communities. This year also commemorates the 250th anniversary of Captain Cook's journey to Australia. Featured pieces include Angela Tiatia's Dark Light (2017), Shivanjani Lal's Yaad Karo (1879–1920) (2019), and Gurrutu‘mi Mala – My Connections (2019) by Gutiŋarra Yunupiŋu. The exhibition is inspired by Albert Wendt's 1976 essay 'Towards A New Oceania', highlighting the intricate nature of cultural interpretations and relationships throughout the Pacific.
Key facts
- Exhibition title: Wansolwara: One Salt Water
- Dates: 17 January – 29 March 2020
- Venues: UNSW Galleries and 4A Centre for Contemporary Art, Sydney
- Number of artists: 20 contemporary artists with ties to Oceania and the Pacific
- Curatorial focus: Rejects colonial geographical categories, emphasizes a continuous waterscape and shared kinship
- Historical context: Coincides with the 250th anniversary of Captain Cook's voyage to Australia
- Key artwork: Angela Tiatia's Dark Light (2017) references Max Dupain's Sunbaker and Paul Gauguin's Spirit of the Dead Watching
- Thematic elements: Addresses indentured labor, post-colonial realities, and cultural authenticity
Entities
Artists
- Angela Tiatia
- Shivanjani Lal
- Caroline Monnet
- Alanis Obomsawin
- Nadia Myre
- Amrita Hepi
- Gutiŋarra Yunupiŋu
- Rebecca Ann Hobbs
- Max Dupain
- Paul Gauguin
- Albert Wendt
- Léuli Eshrāghi
Institutions
- UNSW Galleries
- 4A Centre for Contemporary Art
- ArtReview Asia
Locations
- Sydney
- Australia
- Solomon Islands
- Fiji
- Montreal
- Darwin
- East Arnhem Land
- Northern Territory
- Auckland
- New Zealand
- Harlem
- Kingston
- Tahiti
- British Ceylon
- Jamaica
- Barbados