Artists’ Artists: Tony Albert

Artistic Director for the 5th National Indigenous Art Triennial is Tony Albert, Girramay/Yidinji/Kuku-Yalanji peoples, one of Australia’s foremost contemporary artists. Albert is a renowned artist, writer, and curator. He has a longstanding interest in the cultural misrepresentation of Aboriginal people, explaining, ‘There is a tension between what is seen and unseen and that is the space in which I create my work’. Drawing on both personal and collective histories and employing painting, photography, sculpture, video and text Albert considers the ways in which optimism might be utilised to overcome adversity. He poses crucial questions such as how do we remember, give justice to, and rewrite complex and traumatic histories. 

Works of art discussed:

1. Arthur Koo'ekka Pambegan Jnr, Wik-Waya/Chaa-Ngkoth/Wik Mungkan/Winchanam peoples, Untitled XXXXI (Body Paint Design – Three Ancestral Figures) 2010, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra 
2. Wangechi Mutu, The seated IV 2019, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary, 2022, © Wangechi Mutu 
3. Albert Namatjira, Western Arrarnta people, Blackwood Trees at Rapid Creek, Darwin 1950, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, Gordon and Marilyn Darling Hermannsburg Fund 2023, © Namatjira Legacy Trust/ Copyright Agency 
4. Margaret Preston, Still life: fruit (Arnhem Land motif) 1941, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 1976, © Margaret Preston/Copyright Agency

Series Information:

This series was produced by Audiocraft

Theme Music by Ravi Gupta

Segment Music is Hold Tight by Thalia Skopellos from Melodie Music

5th National Indigenous Art Triennial: After the Rain exhibition identity by Aretha Brown

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