Ai Weiwei Highlights Treatment of Global Refugees in Human Flow Documentary and Sydney Biennale Installations

My latest post for Global Voices:

During a visit to Australia, Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei has blitzed the media with his concerns about the global treatment of refugees.

He is the headline artist with two major installations at the Biennale of Sydney that runs until June 2018. One, called “The Law of the Journey” located at the Cockatoo Island, features a black rubber, inflatable boat and figures. They were made with the same material used to produce the hazardous boats that some asylum seekers and migrants travel in while attempting to cross the Mediterranean.

...Ai also spoke at the Cinema Nova for the Melbourne opening of his documentary “Human Flow”, which features the stories of refugees in 23 countries in 2016.

...Kon Karapanagiotidis from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre conducted a live interview on Facebook and Twitter that has since attracted nearly 10,000 viewers.

More: From Sydney Biennale Installations to Film Screenings, Ai Weiwei Highlights Treatment of Global Refugees

Burka Woman's New Life with Ned Kelly

After hearing Mars Drum interviewed on Bush Telegraph (ABC Radio National) we visited  her exhibition "Beyond the Burka" - Oils on canvas.

Valentinian Cross

For the past few years, Mars has been producing A3 sized paintings depicting the romantic adventures of Ned Kelly and Burka Woman.

Burka Woman is a Muslim refugee whom Ned rescued from the surf. These days, they enjoy life together in Australia and even find time to go to art galleries.

Mars Drum is passionate about about the need for non-Muslims to be open to Muslims and to women wearing the Burka.
Burka Woman meets Ned Kelly (ABC Radio 14 March 2011)

Unfortunately it has finished now but if you get a chance to see her paintings, make the effort.

To listen to the interview, please click here: Bush Telegraph interview March 2011

Mars regularly wore a burka in public after 11 September 2001 for some years. For more on this, visit her blog The True History of Ned Kelly and Burka Woman 'Burka Woman builds a new life for herself in Australia, with the help of Ned Kelly'.