Melbourne resident, Mayumi Uchida who has called Australia home for the past 30 years, has been showcasing the beauty of Aboriginal art to the people of Japan for over 2 decades. She was one of the key figures, who took the exhibition Utopia: The Genius of Emily Kame Kngwarreye developed by Museum of Australia, in partnership with Japan’s newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun to Japan.
When Mayumi first arrived in Australia back in 1993, as a volunteer Japanese teacher, her knowledge on Aboriginal art, let alone the Aboriginal culture was very minimal. She recalls that the travel guide of Australia which accompanied her, only had 2 pages dedicated to the most basic information on Australian Indigenous culture.
After a year of life in Australia, Mayumi was ready to go home. One day, as Mayumi walked around the city of Melbourne, looking for presents to bring back home, the weather turned and suddenly began to rain.
A shop she ran into to take shelter, was an Aboriginal Art Gallery. This was the first time she saw Aboriginal art in person, and was drawn into its beauty. She also recalls having a strange feeling of nostalgia.
"How are Aboriginal arts seen in Japan?" the owner of the gallery asked.
Source: Mayumi Uchida
Mayumi had no knowledge to answer the various questions thrown at her, but the owner's enthusiastic explanation on Aboriginal Art continued long after the shop closed. With zero prior knowledge, "everything just flowed into my mind" says Mayumi.
For the next 6 years, she worked at this very gallery which she stumbled across, before establishing her own business, Art Space Land of Dreams in 2000.
Prior to the Sydney Olympics in 2000, when Australian Indigenous culture was extensively shown during the opening and closing ceremony, little was known about Aboriginal culture in Japan, says Mayumi.
"Finding a gallery to display was not easy"
The very first Aboriginal Art exhibition was held from the lounge of her friend's house.
But gradually, as the Aboriginal art became "recognized" in Japan, she was able to book galleries. One of the highlight of her career, was helping with the Utopia: The Genius of Emily Kame Kngwarreye in the National Museum of Art, Osaka and the National Art Center, Tokyo - the two most most prestigious venues known in Japan.
When Mayumi visits remote part of Northern Territory she brings with her, "Mayumi Notebook" containing all the sounds of the Aboriginal language she has heard, outlining the situation it was used, and what it potentially meant. It is a tool that help her communicate, especially with the senior artist.
Aboriginal art carefully selected by Mayumi, displayed at galleries in Japan Source: Mayumi Uchida
She purchases artworks through art centres set up by the Australian government. The artist each has their own account, and will be paid accordingly, says Mayumi. She is aware that the exploitation of indigenous artist sadly still occur today, and this is the way she is able to respect the culture.
Part 2 of the interview to continue next week.
Mayumi communicates to the artists using mixture of English and Indigenous language that she has learnt over the years. Source: Mayumi Uchida
