The Surfworld Ocean Gallery in Torquay recently hosted an exhibition from the Vanuatu Culture Centre that provided for this shire’s residents a much broader insight into the unique customs, environment and cultural diversity of Vanuatu. The exhibition, entitled ‘2006 Commonwealth Games Surf Coast Shire Second Team Exhibition: Eksibisen blong ol Kastom blong Vanuatu’, consisted of a number of large-scale Cibachrome photographs by long-time Cultural Centre collaborator, David Becker, of people engaged in traditional activities in various islands of the country.
The exhibition, which ran from the 10th of March until the 17th of April at the Surfworld Ocean Gallery was a result of the Commonwealth Games “Adopt a Second Team” initiative, which has inspired a new relationship between the Surf Coast Shire and Vanuatu. It was one of the main components in a Shire initiative to raise the awareness of its residents about the home country of their “adopted second team”. The new history textbooks produced last year by the Cultural Centre were also used by the Shire as part of this initiative.
Ocean Gallery curator Samantha Leggett, went to Vanuatu to research the exhibition and confirm arrangements with the Cultural Centre for the collaboration.
Photos show the Vanuatu Commonwealth Games team visiting the exhibition.
