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Australia lends its touch to SG50 bash

SINGAPORE — The Republic’s jubilee-year celebrations will see a touch of Australian flair in the form of a signature Australian barbecue and a cultural showcase in the heartlands.

Australian High Commissioner to Singapore Philip Green (centre) unveiling the tapestry artwork Catching Breath at his residence, while Antonia Sume (left), director of Australian Tapestry Workshop, and artist Brook Andrew look on. photo: Wee Teck Hian

Australian High Commissioner to Singapore Philip Green (centre) unveiling the tapestry artwork Catching Breath at his residence, while Antonia Sume (left), director of Australian Tapestry Workshop, and artist Brook Andrew look on. photo: Wee Teck Hian

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SINGAPORE — The Republic’s jubilee-year celebrations will see a touch of Australian flair in the form of a signature Australian barbecue and a cultural showcase in the heartlands.

With this year also marking the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations between Singapore and Canberra, the Australian High Commission Singapore has planned a series of celebratory activities for the first half of the year.

In an interview with TODAY at his official residence, Australian High Commissioner to Singapore Philip Green dropped more hints about what to expect in the coming months.

“What we will be doing in the arts-and-culture field with Singapore this year is going to be very much at the community level. Other countries will be celebrating at Marina Bay Sands and the Esplanade Theatre. Australia will not — we plan to be in the heartlands,” he said.

Adding that the activities would take place in what he termed as “non-traditional” places such as wet markets and malls, Mr Green said they would pop up in places where people least expect.

Kicking off the celebrations is a specially commissioned tapestry unveiled on Monday that represents Australia’s desire to take its relationship with Singapore to the next level.

Noting that Australia was the first foreign country to recognise Singapore after its independence in 1965, Mr Green said relations between the two nations have been getting closer since, in areas ranging from trade and investment, defence and security to arts and culture.

“In some of our biggest relationships in places such as Washington, Beijing and Delhi, we have these (tapestries) already and it is very appropriate that Singapore joins that list at the top table of Australia’s international relationships,” he said. “I’m particularly pleased that we’re able to display something of our indigenous culture.”

The tapestry, designed by leading Australian indigenous artist Brook Andrew, depicts a grey-scale portrait of a young Australian indigenous man taken in the 19th century with a veil covering his face.

Titled Catching Breath, the work was intended to invoke questions of the meaning of identity, culture and social values, said Mr Andrew.

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