Entertainment
20 April, 2024
Indigenous fair’s milestone
FOR its 15th anniversary, the ever-growing Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) is bringing its biggest and most exciting program to date and a celebration of its evolution under the theme ‘Country Speaking’.
Over four jam-packed days of culture and art, CIAF is taking a step back to remember and celebrate the evolution and growth to what started as a small Indigenous fair at the Tanks Arts Centre to what is today Queensland’s biggest celebration of First Nations art and culture from July 25-28.
With a main hub at the Cairns Convention Centre and satellite venues like the Tanks Arts Centre, NorthSite Contemporary Arts, Cairns Art Gallery, the Courthouse Gallery and Bulmba-ja Arts Centre, CIAF will bring back some of its most iconic events like the opening night party, the art fair and market, fashion performances and a 15th anniversary themed exhibition – Not Selling Cakes.
“This anniversary allows us to look back on these past 15 years and the growth of the Queensland Indigenous art movement and the contributions that CIAF has made to showcase the incredible work of artists,” said artistic director Francoise Lane.
“CIAF has grown significantly since its first ever art fair in 2009 which presented only the art fair, and it’s now an event that attracts more than 30,000 people to the show.
“This is an opportunity for artists to explore their spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental relationship to Country, a strong First Nations concept embodying 65,000 years of deep connection to the land, waters, skies, and seas.
“Country speaks. It always has and always will. The question is, are we listening?”
For CIAF 2024, two of its most anticipated events are the ‘Light the Fire’ fashion performance where designer Irene Robinson will be displaying her collection, and the 15th anniversary exhibition, ‘Not Selling Cakes’ which will bring back some CIAF’s most iconic artists.
“Not Selling Cakes is a title that we used from artist Billy Missi, who was integral to the start the whole organisation back in 2006 to get CIAF up and running, so this exhibition is a retrospective, bringing back artists that have been through CIAF,” said CIAF’s curatorial associate Teho Ropeyarn.
“It’s a legacy marker, there’s 21 artists in the show with approximately 40 pieces exhibited and we also have some spiritual artists, artists who have been part of CIAF that have passed on like Billy Missi.
“This exhibition is about reflection and memory, and we want viewers to reflect on those artists that have advocated for First Nations in Cairns, those leaders’ hard work.”
Visit the full program at www.ciaf.com.au
