Presented as part of AsiaTOPA 2020 WOVEN SONG Australian Launch is contemporary chamber music by Yorta Yorta soprano Deborah Cheetham AO inspired by the ATW Embassy Tapestries.

On February 14 and 15 2020, amongst the ATW tapestry looms, the acclaimed soprano and leading international musicians performed the Australian Launch of the first three compositions in the WOVEN SONG series; Catching Breath, Article 21 and My Mother’s Country.

These compositions are lyrical and dynamic responses to the ATW Embassy tapestries; Catching Breath Brook Andrew, (High Commission, Singapore), Untitled (detail from Kiwirrkurra women’s painting) Nanyuma Napangati, (High Commissioner’s Residence, New Delhi) and Lumpa Lumpa Country, Daisy Andrews, (Embassy, Tokyo). Each composition engages in the telling of First Nation stories.

A unique collaboration across cultures and art forms joining Cheetham and Short Black Opera (SBO) on stage, will 
be international special guests tabla master, Pandit Ashis Sengupta (INDIA), shakuhachi master, Reison Kuroda (JAPAN), mezzo soprano, Angela Cortez (SINGAPORE) as well as Melbourne based ensembles Plexus and Rubiks Collective.

The Embassy Tapestries are a vibrant collaboration between Indigenous artists and the senior weavers at the Australian Tapestry Workshop (ATW) that places large-scale hand-woven tapestries on loan to selected overseas Australian Diplomatic Missions. Since 2004 nine tapestries have been woven and are currently on display in New Delhi, Tokyo, Singapore, Beijing, Washington DC, Paris, Rome, Dublin and The Holy See.

The performances are accompanied by an exhibition featuring magnificent gowns created by leading Melbourne couturier Linda Britten for WOVEN SONG. The gowns on display were worn by Cheetham for the world premieres of the first three compositions in the WOVEN SONG suite – performed in Singapore, New Delhi and Tokyo.

This performance and exhibition program is generously supported by the Besen Family Foundation, Creative Victoria, City of Port Phillip, Coppersmith Hotel, Elgee Park Wines and is proudly presented as part of Asia TOPA 2020.