Judith Shelley
The story of my connection with South East Asia probably began a few generations ago. My great grandfather George Ernest Jackson was born on a tea plantation in Sri Lanka in 1868. From there his career included work in India, Sri Lanka, Australia and the Solomon Islands.
My grandmother and her sisters were born and grew up surrounded by Asian and Pacific languages and cultures.
Many people I have met have strong family connections and involvement with Aisan cultures, going back generations. However, in my view there is very little awareness or acknowledgement of this on-going closeness and relationship with Asia within the Australian psyche.
I became interested in drawing and painting at an early age and first started exhibiting in 1980 at the age of 19 in Sydney, Australia. When I was 22 years old I came to live in the cultural centre of Ubud in Bali with my ex-husband who is also a painter, writer and choreographer. Through the support and encouragement of local artists I held my first solo exhibition in Ubud in 1987. This exhibition was only the second private artists' exhibition held in Ubud. These exhibitions set the scene for a flourishing of artist-run shows which coincided with the art boom that was happening at the time.
Along with participation in group exhibitions in Australia and Indonesia over the last 20 years, some highlights of my career have included:
- 1988: I was invited to participate in a Cultural Exchange Exhibition with Rudolf Usman at Mitra Budaya Gallery in Jakarta. The exhibition was opened by the then Australian Ambassador Mr Bill Morrison and was a great success, being covered by all the major Jakarta newspapers and national television news.
- 1990: I held solo exhibitions at Gallery 77 in Glebe Australia and at Keke Gallery in Bandung Indonesia.
- 1991: I had the great pleasure to be a founding member of Ikatan Seniwati di Bali - the first women's art group in Bali and participated in the wonderful Ten Women Artists Exhibition.
- 1992 I returned to Australia to live in Byron Bay - not long after, I held a solo exhibition of silk paintings and pastel drawings at Mullumbimby Art Gallery. I also joined the North Coast Fibre Artists Group, participating in group exhibitions in Brisbane, Lismore, Byron Bay and various art shows throughout the NSW Nth Coast until now.
- 1993: I was fortunate to be able to return to Bali and utilise studio space at Seniwati Gallery in Ubud holding a solo show of silk paintings and pastel drawings while there.
Since 1998 I have been working full-time to establish the Australia Indonesia Arts Alliance and my creative output has included co-founding the AIAA web site and creating Inspirasi Magazine. I hope to return to painting soon.
Judith Shelley
Opening of Cultural Exchange Exhibition 1988 - Judith Shelley - Rudolf Usman at Mitra Budaya, Jakarta