Ping Pong Exhibition Panel Colombia Australia: Cultural Connections in the 21st Century November 8th, 2013 Intervention

n by H. E. CLEMENCIA FORERO UCRS Ambassador of Colombia Dr Kevin Murray, Adjunct Professor, School of Art, RMIT University Mr Jorge Leiva, Colombian musician, visual artist and educator Mr Justin MacDonnell, Australia Latin America Foundation Ms Jill Morgan AM, CEO, Multicultural Arts Victoria (Moderator) Dear Friends

It is a privilege to be here with you today and be part of this dialogue which takes place on the occasion of the Ping Pong exhibition, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia and Multicultural Arts Victoria.

Let me start by saying that I feel very much at ease in this scenario, exchanging views with artists and people dedicated to culture and the arts. As an anecdote, I wish to refer to the beginning of my career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Colombia Australia: Cultural Connections in the 21st Century Ping Pong exhibition Panel Intervention by H. E. CLEMENCIA FORERO UCRS Ambassador of Colombia

Colombia. After studying Philosophy and Literature at the Universidad de los Andes in Bogota, I taught for several years at the Faculty in courses that were focused on different aspects of culture and humanities, such as Colombian Literature. Those were the times of the so called Latin American Boom. Gabriel Garca Mrquez, our Nobel Prize winner, had just published his famous novel One Hundred Years of Solitude. Students and Professors alike were dedicated to the analysis of the innovative works of the fascinating generation of novelists that was surging in Latin America. After this academic segment of my career, I joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and due to my background I was offered the position of Director of Cultural Affairs. So you can realize why I feel so immensely happy to be among you in this special exercise of Cultural Diplomacy.

I think this is the perfect occasion to talk about culture in Colombia.

As you know, Colombia is rich in cultural diversity, expressed in its vast cultural heritage and in the vibrant contemporary artistic activity that characterizes its great cities today: Bogota, Medellin, Cali and Barranquilla are scenarios for vanguard proposals in every area of the visual, dramatic, and musical arts.1 Modern cultural expressions are produced at large centres for artistic creation, production and dialogue, built with innovative architectural designs.

Colombia Australia: Cultural Connections in the 21st Century Ping Pong exhibition Panel Intervention by H. E. CLEMENCIA FORERO UCRS Ambassador of Colombia

Contemporary architecture has also created what is called the silent revolution of the libraries. These public libraries are part of the Governments efforts to make Colombia a nation of readers.2

As I mentioned, our cultural heritage is vast. And there are several sites included in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO. These are unique expressions of Colombian culture and are representative of a country whose identity is based precisely on its diversity.

Let me mention some of the most outstanding, which can illustrate the different phases of our history and the pillars of our traditions: San Agustin Archaeological Park in the southern Province of Huila contains monumental tombs, and sculptures of human figures, reptiles and amphibians for ceremonial use of the indigenous peoples that settled in the region thousands of years ago, which are an exceptional expression of our pre-colombian culture, the original basis and cornerstone of our national identity . Much older than the statues of San Agustin are the gold pieces shown in the Gold Museum of Bogota, one of the most important collections of pre Colombian gold artefacts in the world. Different cultures settled in several regions of Colombia produced masterpieces that originated the legend of El Dorado.
Colombia Australia: Cultural Connections in the 21st Century Ping Pong exhibition Panel Intervention by H. E. CLEMENCIA FORERO UCRS Ambassador of Colombia

 The Port, Fortresses and Group of monuments in Cartagena, which were included in the World Heritage List in 1984, are the most significant constructions by Spain on the Caribbean. Located strategically on the Caribbean, Cartagena, a city that has been able to preserve its historical centre, is also a meeting place for cultural events organised around famous Festivals like the Classical Music Festival and the Hay Festival. This annual event, mainly a meeting space for novelists and writers, originated in Wales in the small town of Hay on Wye and holds similar events in Spain, Mexico and Brazil and Colombia. The Carnival of Barranquilla: This tradition is a fusion of the cultural heritage of the indigenous peoples and the African and European influences that started to develop in the sixteenth century. It was proclaimed as a masterpiece of oral and immaterial Heritage by UNESCO in 2003. So, Culture in Colombia can be characterized by its multicultural roots and its diversity, features that we share with Australia, a nation that is also multicultural and diverse. One of the components of our foreign policy agenda is Cultural Diplomacy, through which we wish to increase and deepen our presence in different parts of the world. For this purpose, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has created a tool for the promotion of Colombia called Plan de Promocin de Colombia en el exterior - Plan of Promotion of Colombia abroad-, in charge of developing
Colombia Australia: Cultural Connections in the 21st Century Ping Pong exhibition Panel Intervention by H. E. CLEMENCIA FORERO UCRS Ambassador of Colombia

cultural activities in selected countries, such as concerts, festivals, work-shops, seminars and exhibitions. Regarding Australia, and since the Embassy was reopened in 2008, we have been developing multiple cultural activities. For Latin America, a very significant event was the inauguration of the Latin American Plaza in Canberra, through a Memorandum of Understanding signed with the ACT authorities by all the Ambassadors of the Latin American Group accredited in Canberra, a place that has become a meeting point for commemoration, symbolizing Latin American unity. The creation of ANCLAS, as the Centre for Latin American Studies, at ANU, has provided a relevant space in the Australian capital for academic reflection, research and cultural events. The Embassy has been participating in the Canberra Multicultural Festival, and presenting several musical groups in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne (presentation of Salsa: we are the Colombian Pacific November 2011) For the Bi-centennial Anniversary of our Independence from Spain, that involved Colombia, Peru, Chile, Ecuador and Venezuela, the Symphonic Orchestra of Wollongong took part in the celebration with a Concert that included works from the five countries, under the direction of the Colombian conductor Carlos Alvarado. In that context,
Colombia Australia: Cultural Connections in the 21st Century Ping Pong exhibition Panel Intervention by H. E. CLEMENCIA FORERO UCRS Ambassador of Colombia

young talented Australian musicians interpreted classical pieces and arrangements of Latin American and Colombian music. We also attribute great importance to sports, as a way to promote links between countries. In this context we have a project that we have been developing in Australia and New Zealand that has a relevant social component. Through the project that started in 2011, sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, we are bringing young Colombian boys and girls, who are starting to be trained in Rugby and also groups that have experience in BMX, to become familiar with their sport in Australia and enjoy the experience of these activities through training. These young Colombians belong to vulnerable communities and the promotion of sports has opened new opportunities in their lives. We hope that this initiative becomes sustainable and for that purpose we are already engaging with associations and institutions in Australia that have shown interest in this social project. Culture is fundamental for creating people to people links, which are the indispensable basis of relations between countries. This is why we consider that the experience of Artistically Residences is significant. In this respect, in 2012, the Embassy participated in a project called Irregular Hexagon, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia with the collaboration of the Gertrude Gallery of Contemporary Art of Melbourne. Delcy Morelos, a Colombian artist stayed for three weeks in Melbourne

Colombia Australia: Cultural Connections in the 21st Century Ping Pong exhibition Panel Intervention by H. E. CLEMENCIA FORERO UCRS Ambassador of Colombia

working in the Gallery and creating new audacious works of art. With the exhibit that started yesterday, we advance in the establishment of an interactive dialogue between Australian and Colombian contemporary artists. We have also the exceptional opportunity of having Julian Aristizabal and Gregg Creek sharing their experience in this unique initiative of the Ping Pong process. Also it is very meaningful for the Embassy to be able to meet and exchange views with several Colombian artists currently residing in Melbourne who are, no doubt, the best Ambassadors and representatives of our culture and arts. This process is possible through institutions such as RMIT and Multicultural Arts Victoria, which are the focal points and the providers of the space required to materialize this project. We wish to establish and consolidate in the future a network of institutions such as Multicultural Arts Victoria that will enable us to continue deepening the meaningful cultural process that has been initiated through this splendid exhibition. Thank you for your kind attention and participation.

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1. 2. Colombia, a Country of Opportunities. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Benjamin Villegas. Ed. 2013 Colombia, a Country of Opportunities. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Benjamin Villegas. Ed. 2013

Colombia Australia: Cultural Connections in the 21st Century Ping Pong exhibition Panel Intervention by H. E. CLEMENCIA FORERO UCRS Ambassador of Colombia