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'Bedrock'

The Australia Pavilion has picked 'Bedrock' as the first exhibit visitors will see to showcase Australia's indigenous art.

The stunning exhibit, designed by artists from Maningrida Arts and Culture in the Northern Territory, is designed to introduce visitors to Australia's indigenous culture, said Lyndall Sachs, commissioner general for Australia.

"'Bedrock' demonstrates a unique fusion of Australian traditional and contemporary art forms, and pays tribute to the important role indigenous art plays in Australia's rich culture," she said.

The huge wall artwork is carved in timber and cast in resin and steel. They represent the tall, slender spirits from the rocky environment of the Arnhem Land plateau, Sachs noted.

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tall, slender spirits from the rocky environment of the Arnhem Land plateau

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tall, slender spirits from the rocky environment of the Arnhem Land plateau

A school of fish, cast in metal from traditional woven forms, and fiber-woven 'yawk yawks' or female water spirits, are suspended above the exhibition space. The sounds of Arnhem land - voices and music - will help immerse visitors in the land where these beautiful artworks were created.

The designs are inspired by the rugged and dramatic coastal landscape around the Maningrida people in Northern Australia. Maningrida Arts & Culture is based about 500 kilometers west of Darwin and produces both contemporary and traditional work. It is renowned for its quality, innovation, vibrancy and diversity, largely attributed to the eight different language groups living within the community.

(source: World Expo Shanghai 2010 official website)