Artists Lincoln Austin and Deborah Scott with one of Ms Scott’s pieces which will be sent to Pengzhou City in China.
Two Ipswich artists will have their work displayed in Pengzhou City in China as a result of a sister city relationship.
Ipswich City Council and Pengzhou City signed a Sister City Agreement in 2014 to promote understanding, friendship and cooperation.
In April this year, two Ipswich artists, painter Deborah Scott and sculptor Lincoln Austin, were invited to visit Pengzhou for an international art exchange.
They were shown around the city, immersed in its culture and learned about its economy before being asked to create, upon their return home, art inspired by their experience.
The art will be displayed in Pengzhou.
“It was absolutely beautiful. They wanted us to see their city and get to know what their people are all about,” Ms Scott said.
“As well as Lincoln and I from Australia, they had invited two artists from Italy, two from Canada and two from Korea.
“What struck me was how clean the place was, there was no litter anywhere. They also had a very strong sense of community and the people were so welcoming.
“They had what looked like rocks scattered across the city but actually they were speakers and through them they played the most beautiful music.
“Artists are treated like rock stars over there, it’s very different to Australia.”
Ms Scott, an Aboriginal artist who works with ink and pen, said she had created three pieces reflecting on her visit, drawing on the city’s agricultural focus and its floral emblem – the peony flower – for inspiration.
“I think I’m the first Aboriginal person a lot of them had ever met so I’m very proud to be able to send my artwork over to them,” she said.
Sculptor Lincoln Austin at work.
Mr Austin said he too was struck by the kindness afforded the visiting artists.
“It was the best I’ve ever been treated as an artist, we were treated like diplomats, it was amazing. I’m very grateful for the experience,” he said.
Mr Austin said it was his first time visiting China and he learned a lot.
“My eyes were really opened to the reality of what is happening in China, the pace of change and massive scale of development,” he said.
“We attended a meeting with the council and were given a presentation on the development taking place currently and what they have planned.
“At the end of the presentation I asked them about the time frame of the development, and if that was over the next 20 years, but they smiled and said ‘no, it is happening over the next five years’.
“The other thing that really struck me was the genuine happiness and goodwill from the people, not just those hosting us but also the people we met on the street.”
Mr Austin, who has created sculptures for Silkstone Shopping Centre and Redbank Plains Shopping Centre, said he was still working with officials in Pengzhou on a piece.
“Because I’m a sculptor I will do the design and then that will go to China and it will be fabricated over there,” he said.
He said it was exciting to think one of his pieces would be on show in Pengzhou.
“It gives me a good excuse to go back to China. It’s very exciting and it’s always a great privilege to know that one of my pieces will be shown in a public place and become a part of people’s everyday lives,” Mr Austin said.
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