Ochre and Ink, a movie celebrating the extraordinary story of the cross-cultural friendship and artistic collaboration of Chinese artist Zhou Xiaoping and Australian Aboriginal artist Johnny Bulunbulun, has captured the hearts of audiences around the world.

The recipient of a Special Jury Prize at the 9th Pacific International Documentary Film Festival in Tahiti this February, Ochre and Ink focuses on the period when Xiaoping and Bulunbulun are preparing for the highly anticipated opening of their controversial exhibition in Beijing.

After arriving in Australia in 1988, Xiaoping, a traditionally trained Chinese brush painter, travelled on a whim to outback Australia where he came in contact with Aboriginal people for the first time.  A fascination with their art and culture led to him being employed as the artist in residence at the Maningrida Community School in Arnhem Land in 1992.

Xiaoping met John Bulunbulun in the early 90’s and developed a deep connection with the artist who is also a respected traditional doctor, songman and senior ceremonial manager. The relationship between Zhou Xiaoping and John Bulunbulun culminated in the exhibition “Trepang, China & the Story of Macassan – Aboriginal Trade” held at the Capital Museum in Beijing as well as the Melbourne Museum in Australia. This important exhibition included both Xiaoping’s own artwork and collaborative paintings with Bulunbulun.

Tragically, Bulunbulun passed away (April 2010) before he had the opportunity to travel to China to see the exhibition.  However, Johnny’s wife and son were able to the exhibition opening at the imposing Capital Museum in Beijing and perform an emotional ceremony in his honour.

Accusations of racism hurled at Xiaoping because of his depictions of Indigenous people failed to stop the collaboration between the Chinese artist and his Aboriginal associate, nor did it deter organisers of the exhibition of both artists’ work.

When asked about the issues surrounding political correctness in an interview with Artspace China, filmmaker James Bradley revealed that:  “I was kind of worried at first, but Xiaoping would ask all these questions: Can I do this and Can I do that, and Johnny Bulunbulun, almost laughing, would just keep saying Sure!”

“It was more the white gatekeepers who were worried and telling him not to get involved. Whereas what I witnessed was Aboriginal people who were very open and willing to talk to him and to engage and converse with him,” Bradley added.

Elie Chouraqui, jury chairman of the Pacific International Documentary Film Festival, commented that: “there is something fascinating about seeing a Chinese man, who represents the most important nation in the world, population-wise in any case, who finds himself facing an Aborigine, who to him is a survivor of a nation which was almost decimated, massacred. These two men share their humanity through art, by blending their talents.”

See the trailer for Ochre and Ink below: