Largest exhibition of First Nations art to open at the National Gallery of Australia

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The largest exhibition of First Nations art displayed in Canberra will open to the public this weekend. 'Ever Present' pays tribute to the existence and persistence of the world's oldest living culture through a diverse array of works.

Transcript

00:00A celebration of culture, country, ceremony and community.

00:08More than 260 works spanning well over a century.

00:12We challenge these notions of what is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, that it isn't

00:16just the dots that people may be familiar with from Central Australia.

00:20Everpresent has been touring since 2021, travelling to Perth, Singapore and Auckland before arriving

00:28at the National Gallery.

00:29A lot of the larger works couldn't travel overseas, but we're able to showcase them

00:34here today, which is wonderful.

00:37Colonialism and resistance are key themes, with works from the likes of Vincent Namatjira

00:43and Richard Bell.

00:44Truth-telling is a really important part of the healing in this country.

00:48The exhibition also puts emerging artists in the spotlight.

00:52Billy Bayen created this work in his parents' basement during the pandemic.

00:57He never expected it to end up on the national stage.

01:01Career-wise, this is quite easily the biggest moment for me.

01:05Just seeing the work alongside all of your heroes and favourite artists, it's kind of

01:12weird and mind-blowing.

01:13The exhibition includes a number of new acquisitions too, including this wearable art, on display

01:19at the Gallery for the first time.

01:21The collection is ever-expanding.

01:24The exhibition runs until August next year, leaving plenty of time to soak in the sights.

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