12 September 2007
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A work by Chilean artist Eduardo Rapiman |
On his first visit to an Australian art gallery, Chilean Ambassador Jose Luis Balmaceda soon noticed the striking similarity between Indigenous Australian and Mapuche Chilean artworks. Both revel in myth, legends, and the power of the land and earth.
His experience inspired the idea of a collaborative anthology of poetry and artworks bringing together the two indigenous cultures. The project has become a reality with support from the Sydney University International Program Development Fund (IPDF) and the Chilean government. The anthology will feature poetry by ten outstanding Aboriginal and Mapuche poets, as well as artworks by several prominent Aboriginal and Mapuche artists.
It will be available in both English and Spanish and is set to be published by the end of the year in Australia, Chile, Spain, and America.
Mr Balmaceda said: "I hope the anthology will trigger a search, an exploration, by Australians and Chileans in order to create a new synergy between our two cultures.
"Poetry is a tool of cultural relations for it is through culture that you learn about a people and their way of life."
Peter Minter, a lecturer in Indigenous Studies at Sydney University's Koori Centre and an internationally acclaimed poet, is the editor of the Aboriginal Australian section of the anthology. For him the joint project is an important contribution to the University's commitment to internationalisation that ensures an international dimension in its leading research projects.
"It's really important for the University not only to support local Aboriginal culture, but to facilitate that part of our mandate which is to stimulate collaborative interaction with our international partners," he said. "This applies to both our research and pedagogic interests in learning about cultural expression and cultural exchange."
The section that Mr Minter is editing will feature the works of renowned Aboriginal poets Anita Heiss, Yvette Holt, Jennifer Martiniello, Romaine Moreton, and Samuel Wagan Watson. The Chilean section will include the celebrated Mapuche poets Bernardo Colipan, Maribel Mora, Jaime Huenun, Pailo Wirimilla, and Roxana Miranda.
Peter Minter says that the Aboriginal and Mapuche people share similar historical experiences, such as colonisation and the adoption of a European language, that are reflected in their poetry.
The Mapuche people are largest indigenous population in Chile. They still maintain their own language, Mapudungun, but also converse in Spanish.
"One of the real attractions of this particular project is the cross-cultural exchange between two indigenous communities who share similar experiences but would not necessarily have an avenue to a significant connection," Mr Minter said.
Associate Professor Anita Heiss, one of Australia's most prolific and best known indigenous authors, said she was excited about the prospect of reading work by Mapuche poets. She said she hoped this would lead to a greater understanding of what unites the two cultures.
"These kinds of exchanges allow us to connect with issues in an engaging, innovative and for some non-confrontational way," she said. "I applaud Sydney University for leading the way".
Professor John Hearn, Deputy Vice-chancellor (International), said: "This is an exciting international academic collaboration and we are delighted to have the Chilean government's commitment to the project. "
Contact: Claudia Liu
Phone: 02 9351 3191