Art of Oceania

Hetti Perkins, senior curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art at Sydney’s Art Gallery of New South Wales, is also the daughter of well-known Aboriginal activist Charlie Perkins. In this three-part series she summons all of her personal, professional, and ancestral knowledge as she crisscrosses Australia to document the work of the country’s contemporary indigenous artists. From the Gibson Desert to Brisbane, from western Arnhem Land to Melbourne, Perkins explores ways in which the nation’s indigenous artistic currents have evolved over the past thirty years. It’s a breakneck itinerary but an immensely rewarding one, with Perkins introducing a vast number of artists and artworks that viewers outside Australia might otherwise never encounter. 3-part series, 55 minutes each.

Wonders of the Asian World brings to life a broad selection of cultural and natural wonders from the continent and islands of Asia. This sweeping series spans thousands of years of history and features fantastic architectural monuments such as the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal in India, and valuable cultural sites like the majestic Hindu temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Students will also get a firsthand look at natural wonders such as Ha Long Bay in Vietnam and the Ifugao Rice Terraces in the Philippines. Through wonderful footage of World Heritage Sites as identified by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization) for their lasting value to humanity, students will gain a unique understanding and appreciation of Asia's rich and diverse history.

Crossing the strait between Papua New Guinea and the northernmost shores of Queensland, Australia, program host Griff Rhys Jones meets a culture that was for centuries cut off from the rest of the world. The intriguing, stunningly creative objects produced by Torres Strait Islander artists are infused with mystery and a sense of magic—indeed, their perceived power is so closely guarded that many in the community are reluctant to have them seen by outsiders. To understand what he’s encountering and to put it in perspective, Jones must address some questions as objectively as he can. What makes these artworks so striking and so influential? Why are some islanders so reluctant to give up their secrets? And is it possible to explain the enigma of one particularly strange and compelling mask? (59 minutes)

Say ‘kia ora’ to the indomitable Maori peoples and learn about their eye-catching artistic forms and practices. This is a visual feast that begins with the Maori migration to The Land of the Long White Cloud and ends in present day New Zealand, where time-tested art making methods are still practiced. This celebration of Maori art reveals a vibrant and enduring tradition that intertwines beauty, belief, strength and fear. (10 mins)