SHOWCASING INDIGENOUS ART WILL DEEPEN CULTURAL TIES: PHILIP GREEN

"This exhibition isn't just about aesthetics," says Philip Green, the High Commissioner of Australia to India, in an exclusive interview with The Sunday Guardian. "It's a story of family, of country, of culture—and a vital part of how Australia defines itself to the world."

- MURTAZA ALI KHAN

The elegant gallery halls of Triveni Kala Sangam are hosting more than just an art exhibition this week—they are showcasing a diplomatic vision. On the occasion of Australia's National Reconciliation Week, the Australian High Commission has inaugurated Yiwarra Kuju: The Canning Stock Route - Images of Aboriginal Australian Western Desert Art, an exhibition created by the National Museum of Australia, Australia's pre-eminent social history museum, exploring land, nation and people. The focus is on Indigenous histories and cultures, histories of European settlement and people's interaction with the environment. It is open for public viewing till 8 June.

"This exhibition isn't just about aesthetics," says Philip Green, the High Commissioner of Australia to India, in an exclusive interview with The Sunday Guardian. "It's a story of family, of country, of culture—and a vital part of how Australia defines itself to the world."

The opening of Yiwarra Kuju in Delhi symbolizes Australia's resolute cultural diplomacy focus under Green's stewardship, anchored in one of the oldest living civilizations on the planet. With Aboriginal cultures spanning more than 65,000 years, the High Commission is working to ensure that this deep well of heritage becomes a cornerstone of its outreach in India—a nation that itself is home to a rich tapestry of tribal traditions.

High Commissioner Green eloquently describes the Australian identity as composed of three primary threads: the Anglo-Celtic settlers like his own ancestors, Australia's massive immigrant population and Indigenous Australians.

"The Indigenous part of our national life is not just historically significant—it's defining," Green emphasizes. "For us, sharing the interwoven customs, art, and resilience of our First Nations people is both a cultural and diplomatic imperative."