Free Timorese Tais exhibition opens at Tactile Arts
A free exhibition showcasing Timorese culture through Tais, art and photography has opened at Tactile Arts in Darwin.
Tais, Culture and Resilience exhibits beautiful Tais (traditional Timorese weaving) by the LO'UD Co-operative from remote communities in Los Palos, East Timor.
East Timor Women Australia (ETWA) curated the gallery, even inviting LO'UD coordinator Ilda da Cruz to Darwin for the exhibition.
Sally Gray from ETWA said her association was glad they could bring the exhibition to Darwin after its successful debut in Melbourne.
'Darwin has a special connection with its closest international neighbour,' Ms Gray said.
'There are also many Timorese diaspora here, including two women who feature in the photos at the exhibition — Veronica Pereira Maia and Maria Alice Florindo.
'The exhibition includes photographs from international and Australian photographers and together with the Tais weaving they tell the story of how women in East Timor have fought to keep their cultural identity alive.'
The exhibition also coincides with the East Timor Restoration of Independence Day on May 20.
Some of the Tais exhibited were woven by Ilda da Cruz's mother, Olinda da Cruz.
Ms Gray said throughout the brutal 24-year Indonesian occupation of East Timor, Tais became a symbol of hope and resistance.
'Olinda's husband was betrayed, arrested and imprisoned in 1983,' Ms Gray said.
'For Olinda, weaving Tais became resistance, a daily act of defiance, survival and love.'
The free exhibition is open from 10am-2pm at Tactile Arts until the May 31.
There are also many woven Timorese handicrafts available for purchase from the exhibition.
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