Bonds between Asia and Australia have always been tight. It is not just the physical closeness which is more than apparent between these two continents, but there are the cultural ties which bring them even closer. For years, many immigrants have escaped Asia and moved to Australia in search of better lives.
Many of them have made this former land of British prisoners their permanent home and many of them have found peace which they have been searching for. Today, many young people from Asia like to spend their holidays in Australia, while some of them use it as a way to find a summer job and experience a new culture or a new way of life.
Whatever the reason of visiting Australia was, it has had a great impact on the culture of Australia and on its social and artistic claims. Today we have a vast collection of various forms of arts which have been left in Australia and are made by or have been influenced by Asian artists.
There are still many artists in Australia who carry on the tradition of Asian arts on the grounds of the Australian continent. Many people wish to carry on their tradition and are inspired through various forms of canvases or statues. Work of many of these artists is featured on Bluethumb.
Tamil Nadu, the Marriage Pavilion
Perhaps one of the more interesting representations of Asian culture is this marriage pavilion. It originates in India and has a great significance when it comes to the marriage tradition of the Indian people. It is used as an outdoor shrine mainly and was found in a rural Hindu temple complex. It depicts an image or a representation known as Somaskanda.
In the middle of the pavilion, or rather the roof of it, we see the god Shiva sitting on his leg with his hair in a style of a headdress, besides is his consort the goddess Parvati, or Uma as she is also called. She has a green compaction and holds a lotus bud in her hand. Also their infant son Skanda is right beside them and he is sitting on the knee of the goddess Parvati. Around them, winged celestial begins are circling them. This representation symbolizes the divine union and the devotion to family.
Mon People, Standing Buddha
This is a very rare bronze statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, and originates from the early Dvaravati kingdom of central Thailand. The figure represents the First Sermon at Sarnath. This is actually a very important element in the life of Buddha. The gesture of his hands symbolize his teaching role.
This image of Buddha Shakyamuni was very characteristic for the early Dvaravati art. the Life of Buddha is actually a very important element the Theravada Buddhist sculpture of Thailand, which have frequently been inspired by the events of Buddha’s life and made their art of it. This is perhaps one of the most significant and one of the most prized pieces of the gallery which is a part of the larger collections which includes pieces from the mainland Southeast Asian part.
Pahari School, a Cliff Top Village
This is another piece which has been inspired by Indian culture. The image on the painting depicts a hill top village dwelling, synonymous for the 19th century. This picture of a village which is found located on top of a cliff is an image which has been seen within the Himalayan hills region of north India. There is a man dressed in green who is being lowered with ropes to the bottom of the cliffs where three men are awaiting his descent.
The village on top of the cliff is actually represented by being surrounded with white snowy walls while people around it are doing their daily routines and keeping to their lives. The picture is interesting because of the fact that many pieces of art from this period have been inspired by religious events or texts, while this is one of the few which does not depict a holly image.
Bloodline, Zhang Xiaogang
This is a painting which has been made by the Chinese artist called Zhang Xiaogang. It depicts an image of two parents with a baby in the middle which is painted in red color.
Although the parents are represented in bleak colors while the picture is also elongated, it actually offers us a clear image and the opposition towards the one-child rule in China. A stellar piece of art, a picture which is both educational in its symbolism and painted with a steady hand of perfection.
Saddled horse, Sui dynasty
This is a statue of the horse which dates back from the Sui dynasty period and gives us several symbolic representations. Firstly, in China horse were praised and were regarded as one of the most notable gifts one could give as a present.
More so, figurines of horses became very valuable and praised and were frequently seen within the tombs of the deceased which were placed there to accompany them in their afterlife. This particular statue represents realism as it has been made very accurately for the period which dates from. The horse is given in a typical mane pose, with a straight static stance, his head bent down with its tail in an S shape.
You can visit the National Gallery of Australia website for more examples.
