The National Gallery of Australia has brought together Indigenous art from across the nation to curate an exhibition that explores and celebrates identity, history, story and culture.
Defying Empire: 3rd National Indigenous Art Triennial sees the works of 30 contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from across the country in a national spotlight to educate Canberrans about the Indigenous culture.
NGA Curator of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Art, Tina Baus urges locals to visit the exhibition to learn about Australia’s native culture.
“We defy: By existing; By determining our identity; By asserting our histories; our culture; our language; By telling our stories, our way; By being one of the oldest continuous living cultures in the world,” says Tina.
The focus of each piece pays homage to the 50th anniversary of 1967 Referendum that recognised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as Australians for the first time.
It explores the ongoing resilience of Australia’s Indigenous people since first contact, through to the historical fight for recognition and ongoing activism in the present day.
Visitors to the exhibition can expect to be moved by the powerful artwork and its portrayal of identity, racism, displacement, country, nuclear testing, sovereignty and the stolen generations through many media: painting on canvas and bark, weaving and sculpture, new media, prints, photography, metalwork and glasswork.
This groundbreaking collection is the largest of its kind yet at NGA and it highlights the continued excellence and diversity of Indigenous practice today.
Defying Empire: 3rd National Indigenous Art Triennial
National Gallery of Australia
Open 26 May – 10 September 2017
