An Australian arts festival that began a six-month run last July in Japan is giving presentations of a variety of culturally diverse art forms. Events, still being held in different venues, project "a distinctive Australian art scene bursting with vitality." The Australian government in partnership with the Australia Council for the Arts says that "Australia is a land of old and new, where traditions and natural landscapes reaching back 40,000 years stand alone and blend with our contemporary multicultural society." The festival, called "Ancient Future," shows "a vibrant, innovative and creative nation," says the Australian ambassador to Japan.
As part of the festival, Nicola Townsend is curating showings of the work of three acclaimed artists from Dec. 9 to 14. Jason Benjamin and Angus McDonald will exhibit "Don't Look Down" in the Daikanyama Hillside Forum, and David Bromley will stage a solo exhibition in the Obsession Gallery, Tokyo. With a strong background in art auctioneering, for many years Nicola has been aware of emerging artists who she considers are likely to continue, and whose work is most interesting to collectors. She sees art for its own emotional appeal, and recognizes it as investment.
Born in Sydney, Nicola attributes her art interest to the opportunities offered her in childhood. "My parents used to travel a lot, and my sister and I were always in art galleries and museums," she said. She majored in fine arts and history at Sydney University, and found her first work assisting in an art gallery. "At that stage it was not inspiring," she said. "I began to think of the auction world."