Wizards of Oz

Budgerigars in the Sandhills, paint on canvas by Billy Stockman Tjapaltjarri.

Trial by Fire, by Tim Leura Tjapaltjarri.

A new exhibition of Australian indigenous art is an exhilarating journey into 'The Dreamtime'. Zhu Linyong reports

On the afternoon of June 9, visitors to the National Art Museum of China (NAMOC) were enthralled by the live performances of a roster of contemporary indigenous Australian dancers and musicians.

The exciting performances heralded the opening of a new exhibition entitled Aboriginal Art from Australia's Deserts, the first of its kind ever staged in China.

Running until August, the exhibition is part of Imagine Australia - the Year of Australian Culture in China, a year-long bilateral cultural exchange partnership between the Australian Government and the Chinese Ministry of Culture.

Imagine Australia will "showcase some of Australia's finest gems in the performing arts, visual arts, dance, music, film, digital arts, literature and fashion", says Geoff Raby, Australian Ambassador to China.

Created by the National Museum of Australia (NMA), the exhibition features 66 acrylic paintings, painted wooden carvings, and other artifacts from the Papunya community of the Central and Western Desert regions of Australia.

Also on display are 26 acrylic paintings and etchings from the Balgo Hills community of Western Australia, curated by Artbank, which operates as the Australian Government's contemporary arts "library".