The Australian Embassy is holding the “Meet Australia at Ewha” festival in May at Ewha Womans University, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Australia.

“Ewha Womans University was chosen as it frequently hosts popular cultural events for the younger generation,” said Ambassador Sam Gerovich. “This exchange with the university will hopefully become a stepping stone to spread Australian culture among the public.”

The festival includes exhibitions by Australian artists, performances and poetry readings.

A visual display from Australia is to be held at the Cho Ho-yoon Esther Gallery in ECC on the university grounds.

Contemporary Aboriginal art exhibition, “Balgo: Contemporary Australian Art from the Balgo Hills,” will be held between May 11-24 and presents Aboriginal artists’ depictions of their lives and the desert area around their home in Balgo, Western Australia, using colorful images with repeated patterns. 

Celebrated Australian musicians will participate in a special concert, “This is Australia,” at 7 p.m. on May 24 at the Samsung Hall in ECC.

Didgeridoo maestro William Barton will showcase the unique characteristics of the Aboriginal musical instrument. Barton will be accompanied by Suade, an a cappella group ready to impress the audience with beautiful harmonies.

The group came into the spotlight after singing Korean pop songs such as “Magic Castle” and “Nobody” in Korean at a concert in Korea in January.

In addition, the Australia Ensemble will perform during a chapel service at the university auditorium on May 18 at 10 a.m.

Formed in 1980 and resident of the University of New South Wales in Sydney, the orchestra performs internationally, mainly in America, Europe and Asia, as the main ensemble of Australia.

Australia Ensemble will also conduct a master class for students in the music college at 12:30 p.m. on the same day.

The festival also provides a unique opportunity to learn about literature from down under.

Poetry reading by Australia’s major poets will begin at 3 p.m. on May 20 at Ewha Womans University Museum Auditorium. The audience will have a rare opportunity to hear poems recited by Barry Hill, Ivy Alvarez and Terry Jaensch and to participate in discussions with the three poets.

“When it comes to Australia, Korean people often think of visible images such as a vast continent, the Opera House, Koalas and Kangaroos,” said Gerovich. “The event ‘Meet Australia at Ewha’ will be a good opportunity for people in their 20s to experience and understand the diversity of Australian culture.”

Details on the event are available at the Australia-Korea Year of Friendship 2011 website at www.australiakorea50.com and through the Australia Korea 50 iPhone application.

By Yoav Cerralbo (yoav@heraldcorp.com)