Recent cultural exchanges in the 'gateway to Asia'
As Australia's northernmost capital city, Darwin is often referred to as the nation's 'gateway to Asia', and this reputation, both actual and potential, has become a popular platform for state and federal politicians leading the so-called 'push into Asia '. In order to manage this 'push ' with some diplomacy a number of organisations have recognised the need for a greater awareness of the contribution that people of Asian descent have made and continue to make towards Australia 's cultural and economic life and, as part of this, the need for ongoing programs of cultural exchange.
The inaugural Darwin< >Beijing cultural exchange exhibitions held in Darwin (28 June-9 July 1995) are obvious examples of this trend , coinciding as they did with the first Chinese delegation to take part in the Northern Territory Expo '95, reputedly one of the largest annual business and trade conventions in Australia and South East Asia. Neil Emmerson's exhibition Gui Nan Feng held at 24 HR ART (May), and William Yang's performance, Sadness at the Darwin Entertainment Centre (June), had provided Darwin with other contexts for recognising and exploring cultural ties with China. While each of these art events merits critical appreciation in its own right, together they exemplify, at least superficially, the well co-ordinated state of the so-called 'push' in Darwin . They also brought to light a healthy receptivity for Chinese/Australian dialogue which , given Darwin's prominent Chinese history, should come as no surprise.
The recently released federal Wran Report (July 1995) was not particularly optimistic about Darwin's ability to capitalize on its 'gateway to Asia ' bid , citing fundamental problems with image, marginal population growth and isolation. For many the report... The rest of this article is available to subscribers of Eyeline