Page 66 - Tropic Magazine Issue 36

TROPIC • SPECIAL FEATURE

Lasting legacy

REFLECTION

Janina Harding is wrapping up
her eight-year tenure as
Cairns Indigenous Art Fair’s
Artistic Director.
Words: Annabel Bowles

When I asked Janina to talk about some of 1
Cairns Indigenous Art Fair’s key
milestones over the event’s 13-year
history, it was clear that many
blur into one.
Connection is a word she keeps coming
back to, alongside family, friends, Janina has watched many of them
opportunity, growth, culture and sharing. develop and experiment with their
Indeed, over her past eight years as practice year-on-year, resulting in works
Artistic Director, she’s spent a lot of time she describes as now faultless
connecting with artists and communities in execution.
in all corners of Queensland and the 2022’s burst in scope, activity and
Torres Strait, as well as bringing them to quality after two years online also
Cairns each year. And throughout CIAF’s complements the theme, Masters of
two digital iterations, the connections Country, which is centred on celebrating
stretched over international borders the varied and complex knowledge of
more than ever before – reaching over 2.6 Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait
million people in 80 countries in the first Islander Peoples.
year alone. “Queensland has the most diverse native 2
Incredibly, Janina says this year will be species of any state or territory, with “That’s the other beauty – I’m so excited
the largest showcase of Aboriginal and 14,000 known species,” Janina told Tropic. about the networking,” Janina said.
Torres Strait Islander art and culture yet. “The congregation is like family meeting
“A major change I’ve seen over just about family. There’s no other time of the year
every CIAF, before I even started the that brings our people together like that.”
job, is that it’s grown from an art fair to Our Cultural Bosses are While Masters of Country marks the last
a festival that really activates the whole CIAF under Janina’s direction before she
city,” she told Tropic. our professors, and our moves home to Melbourne to be with
“It started at the Tanks in 2009, before Country is our campus family, she certainly won’t be missing the
moving to the Cruise Liner Terminal a action in coming years.
few years later. This year, we’re in the Janina Harding “I’m really proud to have played a hand
Cairns Convention Centre for the first CIAF’s Artistic in seeing CIAF evolve and I’ll miss my
time – the largest venue of its kind in Director incredible team,” she said. “But I’ll be back
Cairns. Plus, all the cultural institutions, “It is not a coincidence that Queensland’s every year – the passion that people have
galleries, and council venues will be filled First Peoples have an innate connection and talent and generosity the event brings
with CIAF events. We’ve managed to with Indigenous plants and trees and a into one place is magnetic. I wouldn’t
saturate the town. This time, it feels like distinct knowledge of their use. miss it for the world.”
the rest of Australia is really waking up “CIAF 2022 is really about
to what Queensland First Peoples’ culture communicating this complex knowledge 1. Pormpuraaw artist Sid Bruce Short Joe, CIAF
is about.” and showcasing its significance. It’s about Artistic Director Janina Harding and model/
CIAF’s new venue has afforded more listening to our voice.” performer Kristen Fagan at the 2018 CIAF launch.
2. CIAF 2018 Fashion Performance, model Hans
space to showcase an incredible 450 Perhaps more than anything though, Ahwang. Credit: Kerry Trapnell Photography.
artists and performers combined, CIAF’s true prowess lies in its ability to
ensuring the event keeps pace with its bring people together from some of the MORE: ciaf.com.au
growing community. most remote corners of Australia.

66 • Tropic • Issue 36