The art and craft of Timor-Leste

One of Darwin's most significant museums showcases the distinct cultural heritage of Australia's young neighbouring nation.

Event Details

Event Type:

Painting/Drawing

Event Schedule

Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

19 Conacher Street, Fannie Bay

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When:

2008-11-22

Start:22-Nov-2008

End:12-Jul-2009

2009-07-12 23:59:59

Editorial Review

22 November 2008-12 July 2009
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
19 Conacher St, Fannie Bay

North-east of Australia lies Timor-Leste which, following 450 years of continuous occupation, became the 21st century's first independent state in May, 2002. This world-first exhibition, held at Darwin's Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT), provides insight into the unique living cultures of the young Southeast Asian nation and showcases its rich cultural history through a comprehensive display of arts and artefacts.

The MAGNT's extensive collection of traditional and contemporary arts and crafts, which are being shown to the public for the first time, are complemented with objects acquired from the national collection of Timor-Leste. Husi Bei Ala Timor Sira Nia Liman - From the Hands of Our Ancestors features textiles, ceramics, carvings and body adornment dating from the present day to as far back as the 18th century. The exhibition includes objects ranging from ceremonial house doors and ancestral figurines to hand-woven textiles, earthenware ceramics and fibre-woven baskets.

A major highlight of the exhibition are the objects and artefacts salvaged from the Dili Museum collection; much of the Timor-Leste objects were destroyed during the riots in 1999. The exhibition also features several high-quality tais, traditional textile lengths which, in the past, were given to people at birth and acted as markers of identity and social status. More recently, tais are used as gifts to honour guests.

Michelle Ho