Cairns Indigenous Art Fair: CIAF 2022

Masters of Country

This year’s 13th Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, CIAF 2022, with the theme Masters of Country will be presenting its latest fashion performance on 8 & 9 July at the Tank Arts Centre.

Always culturally rich and inspiring, CIAF comprises music, dance and language storytelling of Queensland’s First Peoples. It’s an artistic platform that celebrates intergenerational Indigenous culture. The Masters of Country theme is an artistic celebration of Queensland First Peoples’ knowledge and resourcefulness of Indigenous plants and trees. According to its curator Jacinta Harding, “it will provoke a rich and expansive response from the state’s emerging and established artists.”

“Queensland has the most diverse Indigenous species of any state or territory, with 14,000 known species,” said Ms Harding.

The whole fair spans from 6 to 10 July 2022 and will feature the work of approximately 300 visual artists and 150 performers. It’s a multidimensional program of mostly free, family friendly events that foster an inclusive and ethical marketplace for aspiring and established art collectors, curators, and the public. Along with the fashion performance, there’ll also be a Symposium, Art Fair, Big Sculpture Showcase, Music in the Park and more.

The fashion performance will feature a mix of new and experienced Indigenous models, under the curatorial team led by highly respected designer Lynell Flinders.

First Nations Fashion Design — Image: Lovegreen Photography

There’ll be more experienced models who will lead the way and mentor first timers into what is “destined to be a truly exciting and special performance,” Ms Flinders said.

One of Far North Queensland’s favourite Indigenous models and mentor Benita Williams has participated in almost every Cairns Indigenous Art Fair fashion performance since 2015.

“My experience with CIAF has been a real journey since my first fashion performance. Since then, I have met so many people within the modelling industry. It has been an amazing journey watching the event and audience grow.”