Image: Native Dance Ocean Island circa 1900. Photo from the Archives of the British Phosphate Commissioners, Courtesy of the National Archives of Australia

“Agriculture is not in our blood, but our blood is in agriculture.”

Teresia Kieuea Teaiwa (1968-2017)

Carriageworks presents Project Banaba from 17 November until 17 December 2017, a solo exhibition by Banaban scholar and artist Katerina Teaiwa that commemorates the history of Banaba Island in the Pacific Ocean. Banaba Island was destroyed by environmentally devastating phosphate mining during the 20th century, leading to the total relocation of its people in 1945, with the 72nd anniversary of their displacement being marked on 15 December 2017 during the exhibition dates.

Curated by Yuki Kihara, working closely with artist Katerina Teaiwa, this exhibition brings together rare historical archives and new work that sheds light on this little known era of Australian history and its ongoing impact on contemporary Pacific communities.