Outback coffee break

Diamond Rozakeas uses art to paint a different picture of this iconic Indigenous community


In early August, well-known Melbourne cafe entrepreneur Diamond Rozakeas is taking a coffee break, or rather, a break away from her phenomenally successful cafes Top Paddock (Richmond) and The Kettle Black (South Melbourne). She will be bringing the spirit of filotimo to the Anangu people of the Mutitjulu Indigenous community, in the shadow of Uluru (Ayers Rock) in Central Australia.

After a visit to Uluru in March, the Mutitjulu Community Aboriginal Corporation invited Diamond, the famous Chinese artist Zhou Xiaoping and writer Brian James to facilitate the painting of four large-scale murals in the community over a twelve month period. The first murals will be on the front of the swimming pool entrance.

“Like many Indigenous communities, Mutitjulu (Muti) has faced devastating challenges and confronting issues over many decades. To call it disadvantaged would be a gross understatement,” Diamond says. “However, the people of Muti are gracious, shy and hard-working, especially the artists, of whom there are many,” she says.

“It’s a privilege to be invited back into the community and use art to engage the residents, beautify the buildings and potentially develop other projects involving music, sport and health.”

For Diamond and her companions, the initial reconnaissance visit in March was an eye-opener, and highlighted the stark contrasts between city life and living in a remote Outback community, and the injustice of a national ‘out of sight out of mind’ attitude.

“Food, petrol and all the other staples we take for granted in the city are exorbitantly expensive. People simply cannot afford good food, nor have they been introduced to good nutrition. It’s one of the reasons I want to provide breakfast and lunch while we’re there,” she said.

(Chefs Hat (South Melbourne) and Better Food Services, suppliers to Diamond’ cafes, will provide food and cooking equipment for the first three week period she is in the community.)

People are amazed at the unlikely trio behind the Mutitjulu Mural Project.

“It sounds like the beginning of a joke,” Diamond says. “A Greek, a Chinaman and an Aussie go into the desert to paint with Aborigines…”

Diamond’s meeting with the Melbourne-based Zhou mXiaoping came about fortuitously.

Earlier this year she was watching television and came across the documentary Ochre and Ink. It showcased Xiaoping’s collaboration with the great Indigenous artist, the late Johnny Bulnbuln.

During his 25 years in Australia, Xiaoping has lived and painted with many Indigenous communities throughout the country and has held numerous major exhibitions, featuring this collaborative work, in China, Europe and Australia.

After viewing the documentary, Diamond and Brian James contacted Xiaoping and arranged a visit to his studio in Templestowe. He jumped at the prospect of visiting Mutitjulu in March. During that visit they met with legendary elders Rolley Mintuma and Reggie Uluru and artists Rene Kulitja and Billy Cooley. Gary Cole, a member of the Mutitjulu Community Aboriginal Corporation, conducted a tour for them. Amongst the dishevelled buildings, roaming dogs and heat and dust, Diamond was impressed with the spirit of the people she met, especially the children, whom she found to be bright, inquisitive and energetic. However, health and nutrition and building maintenance are serious issues.

The Mutitjulu Community Aboriginal Corporation were enthusiastic about Diamond and her friends and invited them to return in August to begin the exciting mural project.

One of the most memorable experiences for Diamond, Brian James and Xiaoping during their March trip was spending the day with Billy Cooley, the renowned snake carver. Sitting with Billy and his family on the red soil of Uluru, they watched as he deftly carved the snake out of a branch and then meticulously burnt the snake’s markings on it.

When Diamond and Brian returned to their hotel room that afternoon, they got the shock of their lives when they were met by a deadly brown snake as they opened the door. It then quickly slithered into their wardrobe. Needless to say they shifted rooms. The next day when they recounted their story to Billy, he was unfazed. The snake sighting was apparently a sign of good luck and a symbol of renewal. Diamond saw this as a good sign for the mural project and the community.

The trio also sat with Rene Kulitja, whose artwork has decorated Qantas planes. One of Australia’s most prominent Indigenous artists, Rene generously welcomed the visitors and explained the origin of her current painting.

Community elder Rolley Mintuma is well known as an actor (Tracks), boomerang carver and dancer. He recently performed a traditional ceremonial dance for the Dalai Lama when he visited Uluru. When Diamond and Xiaoping met with Rolley, Xiaoping took the opportunity to sketch him.

He also took to his sketch pad for another famous elder, Reggie Uluru, whose family lent their name to the former Ayers Rock. Xiaoping’s large-scale sketch of Reggie is entered into the Archibald Portrait Prize.

The name for the mural project is Art into Life, based on the title of one of Xiaoping’s most famous collaborative paintings, where the fish, painted by Johnny Bulnbuln, ‘come to life’ across Xiaoping’s brushstrokes.

So, in early August Diamond, Xiaoping and Brian will drive to Uluru and begin the Art into Life mural project with the Anangu people of Mutitjulu. It will attract local, national and world-wide media coverage. Diamond would love the support of the Greek community for her endeavours as a gesture of bringing cultures together in the spirit of generosity. She’s hoping a benefactor will come forth to offer the use of a four wheel drive or SUV for their trip and/or donate to the project.

Diamond can be contacted on 0425 705 566 or diamond_roz@hotmail.com