CIAF 2022 - We are Masters of Country

After a three-year hiatus, with the last two events running digitally, Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) returned to Gimuy and Yirrganydji Lands back in July in all its resplendent glory. While we’ve all had to adapt and change because of “recent times”, it’s always such an awe-inspiring experience to be immersed in the incredible explosion of art, design, fashion, Country and culture that CIAF embodies. The theme for this year was ‘We Are Masters of Country’.

Celebrating Queensland 's Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander cultures through an extraordinary presentation of wearable art, fashion, dance, music, and performance… since time immemorial, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples have used plants and trees for nutrition, medicine for healing, and technology such as traps, nets, and weapons. This specialised knowledge has helped them to thrive as the oldest living culture in the world.

In our world view, science and technology are used to manage the environment for the benefit of all people. A great variety of tools, weapons and utensils were used to gather plants for food, fibres, and medicine as well as to hunt animals for food and clothing.

Through textiles and fashion, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander cultures continue to use this cultural knowledge to tell our stories to our future generations.

“It was an absolute pleasure and honour to shoot CIAF fashion collections again with such an amazing team involved. There were 14 collections divided into two days of photoshoots with two different teams of experienced and emerging models. With the help of fashion curator Lynelle Flinders, we could use the beautiful surroundings of the Tjapukai centre which unfortunately closed down during COVID lockdown times last year. Despite the weather Gods being against us, we were able to give enough variety and originality to each collection and yes, we all had heaps of fun in the making of these images.”

Photography:

Cristina Bevilacqua

Hair&MakeUp:

Cass Ellmer

Designers:

Pikinini Blo Country by Cairns West State School Fashion Club, Gu-Ga - Bark Skin by Elverina Johnson, A Peace of Art by Peace Lutheran College, Aura by Simone Arnol ft. Bernard Singleton, Botanical by TAFE Queensland - Cultural Arts, 30 Year Anniversary by Robert Pau, Tawalpin “String Making” by Delvene Cockatoo-Collins Art, Country is our Master by Yarrabah Arts & Cultural Precinct, Strait on Cloth - “Wug Collection” by Rosie Ware Designs, Hopevale Arts & Culture Centre X QUT (Queensland University of Technology), Balurr Wuppi Kouture by Balurr Wuppi Kouture & The Djunngaal Elders Yarrabah Art Centre, Georgina Collection by Red Ridge the Label, Oochunyung Collection by Fiona Wirrer-George Oochunyung, and Pormpuraaw Wearable Art by Pormpuraaw Art and Culture Centre Alma Norman.

Models: 

Amaria Thomas-Savage, Ann-Maree Titasey, Tahanee Buli, Gillyba Ambrum, Jamie McLenson, Dellis Sukaserm, Tanika Parker, Tarita Sagigi, Sarah Eggmolesse, Sasha Grainer, Millisont Sailor, Loretta Messa, Malu Lui, Injarra Harbour, Jobe Adams, Lynette Gee Gee, and Jessica Meeks.

WEBSITE: https://ciaf.com.au/cairns-indigenous-art-fair-ciaf

PUBLICATIONS: https://peppermintmag.com/ciaf-2022/?fbclid=IwAR3BJCz74YThUN2TEy1QpSjCom0ASyqsjZu3FCwsC6tBqhECKtPjU7A_OHA