MEDIA RELEASE COURTESY OF: Toyota Motor Corporation Australia

Melbourne artist Kamahi Djordon King has been selected from more than 70 emerging and established Indigenous artists to exhibit at the 23rd Toyota Community Spirit Gallery exhibition titled PaRing Gallery held in Port Melbourne.

Mr King began painting at age 17 and his art works have been sold throughout the world. He has two paintings on display at the exhibition.

“I grew up in the Northern Territory and I can remember mucking around with paints from a young age,” Mr King said.

“When we were growing up our father worked for a road construction company as a grader operator. We spent a lot of time out bush as he used to grade and cut the dirt roads.

“Some of my motivation for my works comes from the colours of the earth that were below the dry crust, only coming through after my father had taken off the top with his grader,” he said.

Curator for the Toyota Community Spirit Gallery Ken Wong said exhibiting at Toyota Australia’s corporate headquarters provides a unique opportunity and exposure to Melbourne’s corporate community for Mr King.

“The Toyota Community Spirit Gallery opened in 2004 and since then more than 550 local, interstate and international artists have showcased their art to hundreds of visitors and potential art buyers,” Mr Wong said.

“The gallery is a well established Melbourne arts space and Mr King along with 20 other hand-picked Indigenous artists will exhibit as part of a collection of 45 contemporary works of art including paintings, digital prints, photography and sculpture.”

The PaRing Gallery is partnership between Victoria’s Koorie Heritage Trust and the Melbourne Committee’s Future Focus Group. The roving gallery aims to create pathways between the Melbourne business community and Aboriginal culture.

Mr Wong said the PaRing Gallery was the first Indigenous art exhibition to be staged at the Toyota Community Spirit Gallery.

“We are very excited about staging an exhibition that highlights the brilliant work of Indigenous artists, particular Victorian artists,” he said.

“The Toyota Community Spirit Gallery is all about helping talented artists develop themselves and their work, and we’re looking forward to seeing Mr King benefit.”

Since 2004 the gallery has opened doors for more than 530 artists by providing a free space to exhibit, promoting emerging artists and providing a $10,000 grant for promising artists to further their careers.

The PaRing Gallery exhibition runs until 15 October 2010 at the Toyota Community Spirit Gallery, 155 Bertie St, Port Melbourne. During this time the exhibition is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday or by appointment.