"Intertwined" performance as part of the 2018 Commonwealth Games (Gold Coast, Australia)

The performance “Intertwined” showcases the work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists at the 2018 Commonwealth Games Festival (Gold Coast, Australia).

On the occasion of the 2018 Commonwealth Games, designer Grace Lillian-Lee, whose work is strongly inspired by her Aboriginal heritage, and choreographer Fiona Wirrer George have created, directed and produced an exceptional artistic performance celebrating the beauty and diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and identities through art, fashion, music and dance .

Entitled " Intertwined " (which means "intertwined", "intertwined"), the performance commissioned by the 2018 Festival mixes ancestral traditions and contemporary artistic practices, old and new. It explores the crucial theme of the preservation of cultural heritage and ancestral histories in today's world and the possible means of transmission to younger generations, raising the question of possible borders and intertwinings . It is the diversity and its richness that the performance highlights.

20 Indigenous Australian and Torres Strait Islander models, dancers and musicians take part in the performance, showcasing 11 never-before-seen collections of clothing made from textiles created by Aboriginal artists.

Among these, the artists of the Bábbarra Women art center, with whom the IDAIA Paris Gallery collaborates, are honoured. Their magnificent textiles, transformed into art-à-porter, make their identity, cultural and artistic heritage accessible to as many people as possible, especially the younger generations, but also visible to other countries around the world. They thus hope to gradually gain greater international recognition for their story(s). Through the printing on fabric of patterns that they have previously drawn, the artists reveal their history, their cultural attachment to their country and to the oceans that border their land. The intimate and deep relationship that binds them to their traditional country shines through in each of their textiles.

Committed to bringing a variety of voices and artistic practices to reflect the diversity of Australia, Grace Lillian-Lee also wanted to bring to the fore the productions of artists from Maningrida – an art center to which the Bábbarra Women are historically associated – with ornaments and accessories such as dilly bags , traditional woven bags used in particular for picking up or transporting objects.

Galerie IDAIA Paris will soon present the work of the Bábbarra Women during an exhibition dedicated to their superb textiles . Don't miss the unique opportunity to see these true works of art in France. More information about the exhibition will be available very soon.

Image caption:

- at the top of the page, views of the fashion show of the models wearing the creations of Aboriginal artists during the performance " Intertwined " on April 15, 2018 (Gold Coast, Australia) - on the right and on the left, the models wear the textiles made by the Bábbarra artists – photo © IDAIA