NGA announces contemporary artists for National Indigenous Art Triennial

The National Gallery of Australia (NGA) has announced the 30 Indigenous artists participating in Defying Empire: 3rd National Indigenous Art Triennial. The exhibition brings together established, mid-career and emerging Indigenous artists from across the nation, whose works mark the ongoing resistance, resilience and defiance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people against colonisation from first contact to recognition through the 1967 Referendum and up until today.

View the full list of participating artists here.

This major exhibition surveys contemporary art by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists in the year that marks the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum granting Indigenous peoples the right to be counted as Australian for the first time.

‘At the 50th anniversary of this watershed moment in Australian history, it is important to showcase the significance of Indigenous art in defining our national cultural identity,’ said Gerard Vaughan, NGA Director. ‘The creation of a strong school of contemporary Indigenous practice has played a crucial role—nationally and internationally—in recognising the power and relevance of Indigenous visual culture.’

Issues of identity, racism, displacement, country, nuclear testing, sovereignty and the stolen generations are explored through many media: from painting on canvas and bark, to weaving and sculpture, and video, prints, photography, metalwork and glasswork.

Defying Empire follows on from the success of the National Indigenous Art Triennials of Culture Warriors and unDisclosed in furthering the conversation on Indigenous issues through contemporary art practice.

Defying Empire: 3rd National Indigenous Art Triennial is showing from 26 May until 10 September 2017.  Entry is free.