It was the launch of a major art exhibition but it felt more like the beginning of a righteous crusade against capital punishment.
Speaker after speaker at last night’s opening of the Myuran Sukumaran exhibition, Another Day in Paradise, implored those present to enlist in the battle to abolish the kind of punishment that ended the life of the Bali Nine accomplice.
There’s no doubt Another Day in Paradise will win a lot of kudos for the Campbelltown Arts Centre.
Sukumaran’s work, borne of the desperation of a man who knew his days were numbered, is a powerful statement that will resonate for a long time.
Another Day in Paradise is definitely a must see art exhibition.
But as the speeches last night showed, it is much more than that.
The message against capital punishment was most eloquently articulated by Myuran Sukumaran’s brother, Chinthu.
“We are so proud of the art my brother produced,’’ he said.
“But I am still angry that he is no longer with us.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“I hope you appreciate the sadness in his works but also his message of compassion, love and hope and also forgiveness.’’[/social_quote]
Also present last night was Chris Hayes, the member for Fowler and Campbelltown resident, who with veteran Liberal MP Phillip Ruddock waged an ultimately failed campaign to stop the execution of Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.
Mr Hayes did not speak, but his Labor colleague, the member for Macarthur, Dr Mike Freelander did.
He said the Sukumaran paintings on exhibition were a “very important legacy’’.
“It’s an important sign for us all to work harder to end capital punishment all around the world,’’ he said.
Mayor George Brticevic praised the Sukumaran family for supporting the exhibition of their dead son’s art works.
“This exhibition is an incredible legacy and we here in Campbelltown are proud to share in that,’’ the mayor said.
“But the journey you’ve been on, as parents, it’s the bravest thing I’ve seen 22 years as a police officer.’’
Another Day in Paradise, which forms part of the Sydney Festival this year, was curated by Sukumaran’s close friend and mentor Ben Quilty, and Campbelltown Arts Centre director Michael Dagostino.
There are more than 100 art works by Sukumaran on display at Campbelltown.
They were painted during Sukumaran’s incarceration at Bali’s Kerobokan jail and from his final incarceration on Nusa Kambangan Island, where he was executed.
Alongside Sukumaran’s works, Campbelltown Arts Centre commissioned artworks by seven leading Australian artists. The commissioned artworks explore the transformative power of art, the death penalty and profile human rights through multiple layers of social justice systems globally.
But this exhibition belongs to Myuran Sukumaran and his powerful message to the world: abolish capital punishment.
