BUSH DIWAN: COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS AFTERNOON

You are invited to an afternoon tea and curator talk at Bunjil Place Gallery to celebrate the art exhibition Bush Diwan.

The exhibition explores the story of Benalla local Siva Singh from the perspective of artists from South Asian and First Nations communities. Siva Singh arrived in Australia in approximately 1896, and worked as a hawker in Benalla and the surrounding regions from 1898. He established himself as part of the local community—widely recognised for his distinctive pink turban. Bush Diwan features videos, photographs, sculptures and poetry from artists and storytellers from across Australia. The artists in the exhibition delve into the struggles and triumphs of people and communities who have come from afar to restart their lives in a new place.

During the afternoon, you will meet exhibition curator Amrit Gill who will share stories about Bush Diwan, you will also have the opportunity to meet other local community members over masala chai, bread pakora and sweets.

_{Image: A group of Sikhs gathered at Siva Singh’s property at Reef Hills outside Benalla, 1920. Photo courtesy of the WJ Howship Collection, University of Melbourne.}

Bush Diwan is a 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art exhibition. Curated by Amrit Gill and Reina Takeuchi.