02/12/06 - Panel Discussion: Translating Tradition

This is the first panel discussion that i have ever attend. It turn out to be not as formal as i thought it would be. Very interesting! =)


Speakers:
M and Page (not sure about the spelling of the name) (curator, Contemporary Pacific Art)
Michael Parekowhai (NZ Sculptor)
Nusra Latif Qureshi (Pakistan/Melbourne) (focus on miniature)
John Pule

Qn: The word ‘Tradition’ is often used in theme culture. And what is ‘translation’?

Nusra:
• The word tradition is not a good word. It often means old fashion and not interesting.
• The word tradition has a lot to do with miniature painting.
• Many Pakistan artists see miniature painting as something bad and old fashion.
• But miniature painting is regarded as a new experience for her. It’s a new language.
• The word ‘tradition’ means making new/interesting language and a journey of discovery.

John:
• Agree with Nusra
• “Tradition don’t really exist in what I do”
• In his opinion, the form of art his is doing is not something traditional, it is the passing on of story, knowledge etc. to each other. It is not tradition, but more of the knowledge of the past and it’s a continuation of knowledge.
• Talking to aunties taught him many simple but powerful knowledge. (Not many youngsters like to talk to aunty nowadays. Aunty is regarded as old fashion)

Michael:

**Tradition and how they are translated:

• Tradition is and interesting topic
• E.g. celebrating Christmas
- He comes from a place where people get together on 25th Dec and dress up for 3-course dinner. But as time goes on, people celebrate this occasion with BBQ etc.

Qn: Things that are important to you. What you did and what you learnt.

Nursa:
• Intense technique/ skill base trainings are not popular in Art school now.
- E.g. Many have moved to contemporary painting instead of miniature painting for better future.
• Her works are about displacement that happen during de-colonisation

John:
***Translation***
• He became a poet because he is reading TV guide and saw weird words in it
- Amazed by using a few words to describe something
- A few years later, he starts to translate the words from English to U-en language

Michael:
• Definition of words can also be troublesome
• Interested about education:
- The process of learning
- What we know and what we think we know
****Moving tradition to a new spot****
• Education is crucial
- How we make Art etc..
• Who we are? How we are forced to …. Into the global community

Nursa:
• Aunties are disappearing fast
- This figure is not popular anymore. They are seen as old tradition
• Aunties impose certain strict discipline for people who want to learn
- Artist see it as an important learning process
- But this is not what young people would want to do now. They learn things in a different way.

Michael:
• “Tradition is one thing that is always changing.”
• “It is not important where your physical body is” (his tradition is always there with him.


Conclusion:

***We are living in a polycultural society now
***Many traditional practises are not personality based
***Place give culture (people are travelling so often now)
***Tradition provides the foundation to make you strong