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‘DHUKAR’ - THE KNOBLAUCH ABORIGINAL ART COLLECTION IN LUGANO SWITZERLAND

Tribute by Beat Knoblauch

This Memento on the Vernissage in Lugano pays tribute to the many friends and family members whose unwavering support and stern encouragement made it at all possible to stage this exhibition in the “Heleneum”.

Foremost I want to thank my brother Andreas Knoblauch in Goldach, Switzerland, whose early enthusiasm for Australian Aboriginal Art enabled us to pool resources and bring together a representative collection and to have it shown in Lugano. Andreas became himself a collector and his works blend perfectly into the overall concept. Andreas also liaised efficiently in Switzerland with the various authorities concerned, ably assisted by our good friends from our student days, such as Rene Hodel and Thomas Pfisterer with legal advice.

My deep admiration, congratulations and thanks go to the whole enthusiastic team at the Museo delle Culture, headed by Professor Dr. Francesco Campione, whose foresight for new horizons within the Museum made the exhibition a reality, then to Curator Dr. Paolo Maiullari, Head of Research, who had the overall responsability for the conceptual project realisation, for the catalogue and for the promotion.

My thanks go also to Curator Dr. Elisabeta Gnecchi Ruscone, Milano, who first evaluated the collection in Sydney for exhibition in Lugano and who contributed substantially to the catalogue entries.

A hearty thanks to the Sponsor Company Fidinam S.A of Lugano, whose support has been vital for the project realisation, represented at the opening by Dr. Roberto Grassi, CEO.

Henry Bois De Chesne, graphic Designer and Photographer formerly Sydney, now in Zurich, undertook to document and photograph the collection, now the basis for the superb catalogue published for the occasion of the exhibition. His outstanding flair and artistry gave the collection a masterstroke of imagery.

My Assistant in Sydney, Jenifer Jones, was involved on a daily basis with all logistic and administrative matters concerning data collection, packing, shipping, export documentation . Her dedication and continous attention to detail was remarkable and she very diligently liaised with all parties concerned. Bronwyn McKenzie, Curator in Sydney, provided over many years her services as to data collection for all catalogue entries which is very much appreciated.