Talented … Paola Balla is an indigenous artist whose work is part of an Italian exhibition. 60055
By Belinda Nolan
The 36-year-old is one of 80 aboriginal artists whose work is currently being exhibited in some of Italy’s most prestigious galleries.
Dubbed ‘Rainbow Serpent’, the not-for-profit exhibition opened in Sardinia last week and will tour Milan, Venice and Sicily over the next two years.
An indigenous studies lecturer at Victoria University’s St Albans campus, Ms Balla grew up in Echuca and has been drawing and painting since she was a child.
Much of her work is inspired by her Aboriginal heritage.
“My grandmother was a landscape and oil painter and she used to take a piece of charcoal out of the campfire and tell me to draw things,” Ms Balla said.
“We are a very resilient people and I try to express our experiences through my work.”
The West Footscray resident’s work is proof that one person’s trash is another’s treasure.
“I use objects that I find on the footpaths around Footscray, in local op-shops, from neighbours’ hard rubbish,” Ms Balla said.
“It’s environmentally responsible in that way.”
Ms Balla was one of eight artists who had applied for Federal Government funding to make the trip to see their works unveiled overseas.
Although disappointed the application had been rejected, Ms Balla said she was excited and honoured at the prospect of her works being viewed on the other side of the world.
“I was there when they were being packed up and put into a big shipping container,” Ms Balla said.
“I almost felt like I was saying goodbye to one of my children because my art is very much a part of me.
“It’s about my identity as a Koori woman and I feel very attached to it.”
The exhibition opened in Sardinia on Friday.
The catalogue will be available at New York’s Museum of Modern Art and The Louvre.
