Begun in 1750, it was expanded over the next 100 years, absorbing Persian, Indo-Saracenic, Rajasthani and European styles.

In his address, Mr Whitlam stated that Cairns was in a unique position to absorb ideas and styles from three cultures - European, Aboriginal, and Torres Strait Islander.

One of the artists, Yang Zhengxin, said he believed that "Chinese painters should absorb styles and techniques from all over the world but base themselves on Chinese tradition."

Joseph Shabalala, who founded Ladysmith Black Mambazo in 1965, brought a new subtlety to a Zulu choral tradition that had already absorbed church and popular styles, white and black, for a century.

"You can absorb different styles."

Gaganendranath was a pioneer in many ways - in adopting Indian styles of painting after training in western art, and then absorbing Japanese styles.

Conoscenti left Chicago again and traveled extensively throughout the country, absorbing different musical styles at each stop.

Filmy Impressionist light fills the paintings of John H. Twachtman, one of many American artists who absorbed contemporary styles while in Europe.

Violin in tow, Elfman next journeyed to Africa where he traveled through Ghana, Mali, and Upper Volta, absorbing new musical styles, including the Ghanaian highlife genre which would eventually influence his own music.

Manship really did care about the art of other times and places, but he essentially absorbed distant styles into a highly secular and totally American vision of cleanness, legibility, progress and youth.