BUSH DIWAN 2022 BENALLA
Bush Diwan exhibition is a collaboration between 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art and Benalla Art Gallery. In this exhibition six contemporary artists respond to a pivotal moment in Sikh history in Australia. The exhibition celebrates the life of Siva Singh who was a Sikh Community Leader and a political campaigner residing in regional Victoria.
So Who was Siva Singh?
Siva Singh had arrived in Australia in 1896. He was well know in the Benalla and surrounding areas as a hawker. He was well established by 1915 and had he acquired 320 acres of land.
It is believed that Siva Singh took on the responsibility of being the local Granthi in the surrounding regional areas. A pivotal moment celebrated through this exhibition is the arrival of Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji in Benalla in 1920.
On 16th December 1920 an Akhand Path was performed on Siva Singh’s farm. The three day ceremonial prayers were for his friend Hernam Singh from Wangratta who had died. The news of this simple yet ‘Striking’ ceremony was in the local newspaper of the time.
Siva Singh is part of the local legend for other reasons as well. He is remembered for his personal fight against the White Australia Policy. As part of this policy he was no longer allowed to vote despite having votes in three previous elections. Singh’s court case was through out of the court and was ordered to pay the legal cost. However after a decade long legal battle he regained his right to vote in 1925.
This exhibition is curated by Amrit Gill and Reina Takeuchi. The artist in this exhibition are Annidita Banerjee, Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa, Preun Bonser, Monisha Chippade, Manisha Anjali and myself Amardeep Shergill.
This exhibition drew over 5,000 visitors and travelled to Bunjil Place in Melbourne in 2023.
PLEASE CHECK THE LINKS BELOW FOR FURHTER INFORMATION ON THIS EXHIBTION
https://benallaartgallery.com.au/bush-diwan/
https://4a.com.au/exhibitions/bush-diwan
https://www.bunjilplace.com.au/events/bush-diwan
https://www.australiansikhheritage.com/guru-granth-sahib-in-australia