"Old Masters" opens to tell Australian stories in China

The National Museum of China in Beijing has welcomed a rare exhibition of 150 artworks from the National Museum of Australia in Canberra produced by Australian Aboriginal artists. The exhibition titled "Old Masters: Australia's Great Bark Artists", which opened on Tuesday, represents the most significant collection of Australian Aboriginal bark artworks to tour China.

"This delicate and beautiful collection of bark paintings is one of Australia's great cultural treasures, and the National Museum of Australia is delighted to share them with Chinese audiences," said National Museum Director Dr. Mathew Trinca. 

The 150 artworks include 123 bark paintings along with painting tools and carvings. The paintings were produced between 1948 and 1985 by Aboriginal elders from Arnhem Land in Australia's far north. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have inhabited the Australian continent for at least 65,000 years, and their rich and diverse culture is reflected in the intricate designs of the bark artworks.

Margo Neale, the senior Indigenous curator at the Australian National Museum, said that Aboriginal Australians use art to explain their stories and pass on their traditions. "Just like the dragon is a majestic creature in the Chinese culture, the Rainbow Serpent is of great significance in Aboriginal communities."

The bark paintings are delicate and difficult to transport. They were brought to Beijing in specially-designed cases to protect them from turbulence during the journey. 

Arnhem Land elder Witiyana Marika played his didgeridoo, a traditional Australian Aboriginal wind instrument, for the audience at the opening of the exhibition. "I enjoyed my short visit to Beijing. I hope we continue to find links between each other's cultures, and that the Chinese people will like our artworks."

As part of the ongoing exchange between the two national museums, a collection of Chinese ink paintings will go on display in Australia next year.

"We are delighted to welcome the bark painting exhibition in Beijing, and look forward to showing the Chinese ink paintings in Australia," said Bai Yuntao, the deputy director of the academic research center at the National Museum of China. "Cultural exchange between China and Australia is taking place in many aspects, not only between our two museums."

The "Old Masters: Australia's Great Bark Artists" exhibition will run in Beijing until September 3, when it will travel to Shanghai, Chengdu, and Shenzhen.