E1~ 4ARGGEADI ST ELIEP CECKAGANSTDELVER
PRIME MINISTER
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER OPENING OF FIFTH BIENNALE
OF SYDNEY 10' APRIL 1984' SYDNEY
I THANK THE COMMITTEE OF THIS FIFTH BIENNALE OF-SYDNEY FOR
GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND AND TO OPEN' THE
EXHIBITION.-WISH PARTICULARLY TO COMPLIMENT THE
COMMITTEE'S CHAIRMAN MR FRANCO BELGIORNO-NETTIS.
FRANCO'S DRIVE, COURAGE AND FORESIGHT HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL
IN ESTABLISHING THE BIENNALE OF SYDNEY As AUSTRALIA'S MAJOR
EXHIBITION OF CONTEMPORARY ART AND AN ARTISTIC GATHERING
OF INTERNATIONAL SIGNIFICANCEYOU
COULD SAY THAT HE AND HIS COMPANY, TRANSFIELD, CHOSE NOT
TO TAKE THE SOFT OPTION IN ART PATRONAGE. Too OFTEN IT IS
LEFT To GOVERNMENTS TO FUND THE NEW,-THE INNOVATORY SO THAT
PRIVATE PATRONAGE MIGHT PLAY SAFE.
IN SAYING THAT I DO NOT DECRY THE EFFORTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS
OF OTHER PRIVATE SECTOR SPONSORS WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO SUPPORT
A RANGE OF DIFFERENT ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES. THEIR SUPPORT IN
RECENT YEARS HAS GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY AND IS VERY DESIRABLE
AND HEALTHY. No,-I MERELY WISH TO GIVE SPECIAL CREDIT TO
THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO SHOW CONFIDENCE IN BACKING THE NEW,
THE UNFAMILIAR, AND THE SOMETIMES UNPREDICTABLE. COMMUNITY
PARTICIPATION IN SUCH ENTERPRISES IS AFTER ALL IMPORTANTEMBARGOED
AGAINST DELIVECHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
GOVERNMENTS, OF COURSE, ARE EXPECTED TO AND SHOULD E-NCOURAGE
THE FULL RANGE OF ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES THE ESTABLISHED, THE
INNOVATIVE, THE MINORITY ART-IT IS THEREFORE ENTIRELY
PROPER THAT THE THE'AUSTRALIA COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE
FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED THE BIENNALE, AND THAT THE EXHIBITION
' THE MODERNS", WHICH HAS JUST MADE WAY FOR THE BIENNALE IN
THIS GALLERY, SHOULD HAVE BEEN INDEMNIFIED BY THE
COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT WHILE IN AUSTRALIA.
ONE MIGHT SAY THAT IN THE BEST OF ALL POSSIBL. E WORLDS A
SOCIETY SHOULD SPONTANEOUSLY NURTURE ITS OWN ART AND
ARTISTS. INDEED, THERE IS NO INTRINSIC REASON WHY
GOVERNMENTS SHOULD HAVE TO INVOLVE THEMSELVES DIRECTLY WITH
PROMOTION OF THE ARTSBUT
THAT THIS STAGE HAS NOT YET BEEN REACHED WAS BROUGHT
HOME TO US ALL BY THE RECENT REPORT TO THE AUSTRALIA COUNCIL
' THE ARTIST IN AUSTRALIA TODAY'. THAT REPORT IDENTIFIES
MANY DIFFICULTIES WITH WHICH THE AUSTRALIAN ARTS COMMUNITY
MUST CONTEND-WHAT COMES THROUGH QUITE CLEARLY AND THE
REPORT HAS HIGHLIGHTED IS THE NEED TO IMPROVE RECOGNITION
OF THE PROFESSIONAL STATUS OF THE ARTIST BY OTHER SECTIONS
OF SOCIETY-
3.
AT ONE LEVEL THIS MEANS PROVIDING VISIBLE SUPPORT FOR~
CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC ENDEAVOUR. IT ALSO MEANS RECOGNISING
THAT ARTISTS ARE WORKERS, AND AS SUCH, ARE ENTITLED TO
RECEIVE A FAIR LIVING WAGE, EARNED BY THEIR EFFORTS WHICH
GIVE OUR DAILY L-IVES STIMULATION AND PLEASURE.
QUITE DELIBERATELY THE GoVERNEMNT HAS PROVIDED : SUBSTANTIAL
ASSISTANCE UNDER THE COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM FOR THOSE
COMMITTED TO ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL ENDEAVOURS. IT SEES SUCH
SUPPORT AS BEING IMPORTANT TO FULFILLING THE * GOVERNMENT' S
AIMS IN THIS AREATHE
REPORT TO THE AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL ALSO ALLUDES TO THE
DOUBLE BIND WITH WHICH THE ARTS COMMUNITY MUST WRESTLE-IN
THIS ANALYSIS, THE ARTS COMMUNITY FOR ITS PART IS SEEN AS
WANTING TO BE GIVEN A FAIR GO TO RECEIVE CREDIT AND ESTEEM
FROM SOCIETY EQUAL TO ITS CONTRIBUTION TO BE ACCEPTED
WITHIN THE COMMUNITY FOR THE VALUE OF THE CONTRIBUTION IT
MAKES. THE ARTIST, HOWEVER, ALSO WANTS RECOGNITION THAT HE
OR SHE IS IDIFFERENT I AND HAS A RESPONSIBILITY, COMPULSION
FOR CHALLENGING SOCIETY, ILLUMINATING ITS SHORTCOMINGS,
QUESTIONING ITS VALUES AND ASSUMPTIONS.
AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND I WOULD SUGGEST THERE IS A
RESPONSIBILITY DEVOLVING PARTICULARLY ON THE COMMUNITY TO
RECOGNISE AND TO UNDERSTAND THE PREDICAMENT OF THE ARTISTWHETHER
IT CAN EVER BE RESOLVED IS ANOTHER MATTER-
4.
GOVERNMENT ACKNOWLEDGES ARTISTS AS ESSENTIAL MEMBERS'. OF
SOCIETY AND SEES THE NEED TO HELP PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT IN
WHICH THEIR CONTRIBUTION IS RECOGNISED AND THEIR
INDEPENDENCE RESPECTED. HELPING ARTISTS TO FUNCTION
EFFECTIVELY IS ONE OBJECTIVE. ANOTHER IS TO ASSIST THE
GENERAL COMMUNITY TO RECOGNISE, TO EVALUATE, THE ARTISTS'
CONTRIBUTIONTHE EXCELLENT REPORT TO THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT BY ITS
FEDERAL CULTURAL POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE PUT JT QUITE WELL-
" THE BEST TEST OF AN ARTIST'S WORK LIES IN ITS EXPOSURE TO
THE CULTURAL GAZE OF DISCRIMINATING AUDIENCES. AUDIENCES
HAVE TO BE DISCRIMINATING IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE ARTIST
WITH CONSTRUCTIVE RESPONSES. AND AUDIENCES NEED TO BE OPEN Nf
TO NEW EXPERIENCES IN ORDER THAT ORIGINAL WORK MAY EMERGE
NEARER HOME, MY COLLEAGUE BARRY COHEN RECENTLY PUT SOMETHING
OF THE SPIRIT OF THIS PROPOSITION TO HIS STATE COUNTERPARTS
AT THE FEBRUARY CULTURAL MINISTERS' CONFERENCE-IN HIS
SUCCINCT WORDS " IT IS OUR BUSINESS TO STIMULATE THE
IMAGINATIVE ASPECTS OF PEOPLE S LIVES HE WENT ON TO
STRESS THE IMPORTANT CATALYTIC ROLE SCHOOLS COULD PLAY IN
THIS PROCESS-
THERE IS A NEED TO CREATE A BROAD BASE OF SKILLS IN-O-UR
YOUNG PEOPLE-NOT ONLY DO THEY NEED TO BE GIVEN THE SKILLS
TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR WORLD OF INCREASING TECHNOLOGY AND
RAP. ID CHANGE BUT EMPHASIS MUST ALSO BE PLACED ON THE
HUMANITIES IN THE EDUCATION PROCESSYOUNG
PEOPLE MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH AN OPENNESS QF MIND) AND
EXPRESSION, ESSENTIAL IN A. HEALTHY PLURALISTIC SOCIETYESSENTIAL
FOR RESPONDING APPROPRIATELY TO CHALLENGING IDEAS
WHETHER THESE ARISE FROM WITHIN THE ARTS OR SOME OTHER AREA
OF SOCIETY'IS ACTIVITIESI
HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO USE THE WORD ' CONSENSUS' FROM TIME TO
TIME WHEN REFERRING TO THE MIDDLE GROUND WHERE CONTENDING
GROUPS SHOULD MEET WHEN CONFLICT OF INTERESTS SURFACES. IN
THE ARTS I WOULD MAKE AN EXCEPTION IN FACT WE SHOULD ALL
BE A LITTLE WORRIED IF THERE IS TOO MUCH I CONSENSUS I AND NOT
A LITTLE CONTROVERSY IN THIS AREAIT
WOULD BE A POINT OF SOME CONCERN FOR ANY SOCIETY IF IT
FAILED TO RESPOND EITHER POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY TO
WHAT ITS ARTISTS ARE SAYING, OR IF THE ATTITUDE IF YOU
DON T LIKE IT IGNORE IT IBECAME TOO PREVALENT-IF YOU
DON'T LIKE IT, THE ARTIST SHOULD EXPECT US TO SAY SO, AND
MORE IMPORTANTLY TO ASK OURSELVES WHY NOT'? INDIFFERENCE
WOULD BETOKEN A SOCIETY BEREFT OF SPIRIT-
6.
PARADOXICALLY IT MAY WELL BE THE VERY TIME WHEN THE ' ARTIST'S
MESSAGE SHOULD BE HEEDED MOST THAT A SOCIETY FEELS
COMPLACENT ENOUGH TO IGNORE ITTHERE
IS A PARTICULAR DANGER OF THIS SITUATION ARISING IN
MODERN SOCIETIES WHERE TECHNOLOGY HAS GKVEN THE-MASS MEDIA
TREMENDOUS INFLUENCE IN FRAMING A SOCIETY'S ATTITUDES.
THIS INFLUENCE IS NOT MACHIAVELLIAN, NOT PURPOSEFULLY
PLANNED IT IS INHERENT IN THE FORM. TELEVISION FOR
EXAMPLE VERY OFTEN WILL MIX IN APPARENTLY HAPPY
JUXTAPOSITION THE CATACLYSMIC AND THE BANAL THE VITAL AND
THE TRIVIAL. THE IMPORTANT ISSUE MAY SO EASILY BE IGNORED
BY FIXING ON A SIDELIGHT, AN IRRELEVANCY-IF VAN GOGH, FOR
EXAMPLE, WERE A TV STUDIO GUEST, I FEEL THERE WOULD BE AN
IRRESISTIBLE TEMPTATION TO FOCUS ON HIS ' EARS RATHER THAN
HIS ART
NEVERTHELESS, I AM OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR
SOCIETY ART, TECHNOLOGY AND ALL-AM OPTIMISTIC ABOUT
THE PART OUR ARTS COMMUNITY WILL PLAY. THIS IS BASED ON THE
FINE ACHIEVEMENTS IN SO MANY AREAS OF THE ARTS BY SO MANY
TALENTED AUSTRALIANS-
7. 9
ITHINK WE SHOULD ALL BE VERY EXCITED BY THE OPPORTUN-IT IES
AUSTRALIANS HAVE TO GIVE BACK PROGRESSIVELY MORE TO THE
INTERNATIONAL ART HERITAGE FROM WHICH WE HAVE SO EAGERLY
BORROWED-WE ARE BEING INCREASINGLY BLESSED BY THE
INCORPORATION INTO OUR LIVES OF A WEALTH OF INFLUENCES OF
DIVERSE AND RICH CULTURES FROM SO MANY PARTS OF THE** WORLD.
BY DRAWING ON THIS RICHNESS.. AND DIVERSITY AUSTRALIA HAS THE
CHANCE TO PROJECT A UNIQUE IMAGE AND VOICE THROUGHOUT THE
WORLDIT IS, HOWEVER, ON THIS FIFTH BIENNALE OF SYDNEY THAT WE NOW
FOCUS OUR ATTENTION-WE WELCOME THE OVERSEAS ART FRATERNITY
WHO WILL SHARE IT WITH US AND HELP TO MAKE IT LIVE-IT IS
NOT A STATIC, STERILE EXHIBITION, BUT SOMETHING LIVING, AN
OCCASION WHEN THE FULL FORCE OF CONTEMPORARY ARTISTIC
EXPRESSION IS BROUGHT INTO CLOSE FOCUSI
AM PLEASED ALSO THAT IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF THE
EXHIBITION WILL SUBSEQUENTLY TOUR SO THAT SOME OF THE SPIRIT
OF THE BIENNALE CAN BE EXPERIENCED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRYTHE
BIENNALE THEME IS PRIVATE SYMBOL/ SOCIAL METAPHOR AND IN
FORMALLY OPENING THE EXHIBITION I INVITE THE COMMUNITY TO
COME AND SEEK OUT THE SYMBOLS AND METAPHORS; TO CONFRONT
THEM AND BE CONFRONTED BY-THEM; BUT, ABOVE ALL, To ENJOY AND
BE STIMULATED BY THE VITALITY OF THE BIENNALE.