Land of Drawing – is an exceptional art collaboration project with French artist Patrice Balvay based in Le Havre in the north of France – together with a collective of artists from the Aboriginal community of Haasts Bluff located in the central desert of Australia. The Hasts Bluff artists include Ann Lane, Anne Dixon, Daphne Marks, Eileen Anyama Napaltjarri, Eunice Napanangka Jack, Keturah Zimran, and Patricia Multa.

The artists have created two series of panoramic works in parallel, 7 drawings and 7 paintings. These works are topographical, symbolic and emotional transcriptions – on the model of the Aboriginal “dream” – of an experience of two territories: the city of Le Havre and the Australian desert.

First exhibited at the City of Le Havre’s Hanging Gardens as part of the “Le Havre, Australian stopover” event organised by the city of Le Havre for the Australia now France 2021-22 programme, these artworks are now presented at the Australian Embassy.

Land of Drawing is a project initiated by Patrice Balvay, organised in collaboration with IDAIA and the Ikuntji Artists cooperative in Haasts Bluff, in partnership with the City of Le Havre and the Australian Embassy in France with the support of SIFA Logistics.

To visit the exhibition

20 October 2021 – 7 January 2022

Australian Embassy in France – 4 rue Jean Rey 75015 Paris

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
(except public holidays: 1/11, 27-28-31/12).

Admission to our current exhibitions is free upon presentation of a valid ID.

Download the exhibition catalogue here : https://france.celebrateaustralianow.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/11/Dessin-du-territoire-Catalogue-Ambassade-3-1.pdf

Photo credits

• Left : Patrice Balvay, N49°30’49.487”E0°4’0.594″-N49°27’11.482″E0°16’3.013″ / Right : Daphne Marks, Yalka at Karrkurutinytja (Rêve de l’Oignon de Brousse au Lac Macdonald)
• Chrischona Schmidt, Eileen Anyama Napaltjarri, Courtesy of Ikuntji Artists
• Patrice Balvay in his workshop