A creative wave washes in | Bundaberg Art and Theatre | Artists, Galleries and Festivals in Bundaberg

Austen Whitaker puts some finishing touches to the Pacific Storm art exhibition at the Bundaberg regional Art Gallery.

Bundaberg NewsMail

THE region's latest artistic offering attempts to paint the modern day concerns of the Pacific island nations in a contemporary light, and it does it so well that even Pacific islanders are impressed with the modernity that they see.

“We have even had Pacific islanders come in and comment on how different the art is from what they expected, which is just what we were hoping to achieve,” co-curator of Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery's (BRAG) latest exhibition, Joycelin Leahy said.

In the lead-up to today's opening of BRAG's exhibition, Pacific Storm, members of the community combined with United Pacific Islanders of Wide Bay in a colourful prelude.

President of the group, Ema Vueti, said that, through collaboration with the Engaging Communities Program, they were asked to “put on a show” to the Bundaberg community to build interest before the exhibition was launched.

“We will also be making 250 leis for guests to wear when the exhibition does start, but we also performed, ran activities, and passed on the knowledge on the Pacific islands,” she said.

The exhibition will feature 33 different artists from 10 Pacific island nations, showcasing the contemporary take on the issues faced by Australia's neighbours.

“We challenged the artists to express climate change, HIV/Aids, domestic violence, global warming and the economic climate, in a modern way, instead of the tribal way like people may expect,” Ms Leahy said.

“It will be poetic justice for the exhibition to open in Bundaberg, as the region is a historically significant location for Pacific people including South Sea islanders, who have contributed immensely to the sugarcane plantations.”

The over-arching goal of the exhibit, according to BRAG marketing officer Chloe Camilleri, is to raise the local awareness of the issues faced in the region, and the fact that it is occurring so close to home.

“People really need to recognise this ... it's the first Pacific island display of such calibre to come to Bundaberg, so it should draw plenty of interest and hopefully achieve its purpose,” she said.

The gallery opens at 10am today and highlights will include performances, fashion parades and traditional dance classes, plus the opportunity to speak with many of the featured artists.

Entry is free and the exhibition will continue until July 12.