Premier Statement: Artists Named For Iconic Indigenous Tilt Trains

[ozbob]

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh
20/08/2010

Artists Named For Iconic Indigenous Tilt Trains

Queensland Premier and Minister for the Arts Anna Bligh today named Judy Watson and Alick Tipoti as the artists whose work will adorn the first of two unique Indigenous Tilt Trains travelling from Brisbane to Cairns.

"This moving canvas will travel through some of our state's most stunning locations, and it is only fitting that it should end in Cairns in Far North Queensland, home to some of the most exciting Indigenous artists to emerge in recent years," Ms Bligh said.

"It is a fabulous tourism opportunity that combines our iconic Tilt Trains with our unique Queensland Indigenous art.

"This is an Australian first and at 185 metres long - that's seven carriages and two locomotives - this is Australia's largest piece of contemporary Indigenous art.

"The first Tilt Train is due to be on the tracks by the end of the year, with the second Indigenous Tilt Train ready in early 2011.

"Thirteen artists have been shortlisted for this exciting project that will feature our emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists."

Ms Bligh said Indigenous Tilt Trains were the result of a partnership between Arts Queensland's art+place Queensland Public Art Fund and Queensland Rail.


"I am proud of Queensland Rail's world-class Tilt Train service, and am delighted that my Government is able to showcase this stunning art to domestic and international visitors.

"The Tilt Trains are an iconic rail service, and the artwork will be a perfect complement to this internationally known operation."

She said the artwork produced by the artists will be recreated digitally to cover the trains like a second skin.

"Judy Watson is one of our most well known Queensland Indigenous artists whose work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. Born in Mundubbera and from the Waanyi people from north-west Queensland, Judy now lives and works in Brisbane.

"Her designs for the tilt train are based on etchings from her acclaimed heron island suite 2009-10 which she completed from drawings made on Heron Island in 2009 as part of her artist-in-residency at The University of Queensland's Heron Island Research Station.

"Alick, from Badu Island, is one of Australia's leading Torres Strait Islander artists who won the Works on Paper Award at the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards in 2007.

"His designs for the tilt train are based on animal trails and tracks, depicting the movement of animals and sea life, as well the flight of migratory birds unique to the Torres Strait."

Ms Bligh said the Indigenous Tilt Trains perfectly illustrate the depth and diversity of Indigenous artists emerging from Queensland.

"Both Alick and Judy have work on display at this weekend's Cairns Indigenous Art Fair and I urge everyone to attend this event to see what great work is being done by our Indigenous artists in Queensland, from those living in urban centres to the artists working in remote art centres on Erub Island and Mornington Island."

For more information visit the Arts Queensland website www.arts.qld.gov.au or www.ciaf.com.au

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[Golliwog]

I can't wait to see what some of these will look like. IMO these sorts of things should be all over our trains.

[ozbob]

Yes,  here are a few in Japan click --> here!

[Stillwater]

Is this a new paitjob for existing Tilt Trains?  Or are they new train sets?  If so, what happens to the old ones?

[KS]

Have they been introduced yet? Any photos?

[Golliwog]

Have just been unveiled. It looks stunning. Not sure how to put BrisbaneTimes pictures here, but they are in the following article.

301-metre artwork hurtles through Queensland Katherine Feeney
May 6, 2011 - 4:10PM

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Judy Watson artwork on a Queensland tilt train. Photo: Patrick Hamilton

Artwork on trains usually raises the ire of governing bodies, but a new case of locomotive embellishment has received a thumbs up from a Queensland politician.

State transport minister Annastacia Palaszczuk today unveiled a Queensland tilt train transformed into an "iconic" work of Indigenous art.

The designs of artists Judy Watson and Alick Tipoti cover the full 301-span of the train.

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Alick Tipoti artwork on a Queensland tilt train. Photo: Ray Cash

"People along the east coast of Queensland who glimpse this train are in for a real treat," Ms Palaszczuk said. "The quality of the artwork, its contrast to the landscape, as well as the novelty of the moving canvas is breathtaking."

The decorated trains are part of a government public art fund program worth $70,000 which seeks to blend ancient history with modern travel.

Another train will also be covered in artwork later this month for the Indigenous Tilt Train project.

Lockhart River artist Josiah Omeenyo and a collective of 25 artists from Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre in Cardwell will design the second train, Arts Minister Rachel Nolan said.

"This striking piece of mobile artwork is set to become one of our state's most recognisable tourism attractions," she said.

Judy Watson, best known for her work exploring Aboriginal heritage and climate change, is a descendent of the Waanyi people of north-west Queensland.

Her coastal-themed prints contrast the black and white images of Torres Strait warriors created by Tipoti of Badu Island, which lies 60km north of Thursday Island.

Tipoti's imagery features the traditional headdresses, masks, drums and weapons of his ancestors, the Zugubal.


Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/301metre-artwork-hurtles-through-queensland-20110506-1ebeh.html#ixzz1LZviXVrS

Can't wait to see peoples expressions when they see this go through the city.

[Golliwog]

Finance and Arts
The Honourable Rachel Nolan
Friday, May 06, 2011

Indigenous arts transform Tilt Train into moving canvas


A Queensland Rail Tilt Train has been transformed by 301 metres of Queensland Indigenous artwork into Australia's longest moving canvas.

Arts Minister Rachel Nolan today unveiled the Tilt Train, which is the first of two trains to be decorated with Indigenous artwork.

"This striking piece of mobile artwork is set to become one of our state's most recognisable tourism attractions," Ms Nolan said.

"Each side of the Tilt Train's seven carriages now features artwork by Aboriginal artist Judy Watson and Torres Strait Islander Alick Tipoti, who both have well-established international careers with works held by public galleries and in private collections across Australia, Europe and the United States.

"The two artists, Judy and Alick, are also taking part in this first journey north so passengers will have the special experience of being able to ask the artists about their work while travelling.

"Judy is a Brisbane-based artist and Alick is based in Cairns so both will have family and friends sending them off and welcoming them home on this landmark journey."

Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Indigenous artwork would enhance the iconic nature of the journey along Queensland's coast.

"Our Tilt Trains are already a recognisable feature of the tourism industry in our state but this artwork will make them even more unique and representative of Queensland," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"It is fitting that this first train features artwork representing Queensland's two Indigenous cultures, and passengers on this maiden voyage from Brisbane to Cairns and back again are making history.

"People along the east coast of Queensland who glimpse this train are in for a real treat – the quality of the artwork, its contrast to the landscape, as well as the novelty of the moving canvas is breathtaking."

Minister Nolan said Judy's artwork on one side of the Tilt Train was drawn from a suite of boldly-coloured prints that explore the fragile nature of Queensland's scenic coastline with recurring themes of shells, middens, fossils and termite mounds.

"Judy is a descendent of the Waanyi people of north-west Queensland and she is best known for her work exploring Aboriginal heritage and hidden history and, more recently, the environmental impact of climate change and human influences on the ecology," Ms Nolan said.

"Alick's work on the other side of the train is a great contrast to Judy's, featuring striking black and white patterns representing the historic stories of Torres Strait heroes and warriors.

"Alick is strongly connected to the stories of his home of Badu Island and his work reflects the proud history of the Torres Strait Islander people and includes imagery of the spirits of his ancestors, the Zugubal, with their traditional headdresses, masks, drums and weapons.

"It's also fitting that the train travels to Cairns, with both Judy and Alick sharing a connection with the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair which is happening again this year from 19-21 August. I can't think of a better way to get to this event than by catching this Tilt Train."

Minister Nolan also announced that the artists for the second Indigenous art Tilt Train had been selected. They are: Josiah Omeenyo from Lockhart River and a collective of 25 artists from Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre in Cardwell.

Work on the second Indigenous art Tilt Train is expected to begin later this month.

The State Government has invested $750,000 in the Indigenous art Tilt Trains through art+place Queensland Public Art Fund. The project has been jointly delivered by Arts Queensland and Queensland Rail.

For more information visit www.artplace.qld.gov.au and www.qr.com.au

Media Contact: 3237 1051