If you find yourself in Naarm/Melbourne between now and August, there’s a new exhibition at National Gallery of Victoria showcasing First Nations artists from each state and territory to visit.
Presented by Country Road and NGV First Nations Commissions, My Country, the year-long biennial mentorship and exhibition program pairs First Nations artists with an esteemed industry mentor – to work collaboratively in response to a theme.
“The unique mentorship format—the only one of its kind in Australia—offers a career-defining opportunity to emerging practitioners to create a new work under the guidance of a respected mentor,” says NGV Director Tony Ellwood AM of the national program.
Supported and guided by their mentor, the artists – from different disciplinary backgrounds – have worked to the 2024 theme ‘My Country’ which is being exhibited as a group show at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia in Federation Square.
Weaving and textiles, installation, painting and other artistic disciplines are represented in the series showcase.
The exhibiting artists include Warraba Weatherall, Mitch Mahoney, Jan Griffiths, Sophie Honess, artist duo Alec Baker and Eric Barney, Cheryl Rose, Aidan Hartshorn and Johnathon World Peace Bush.
Their respective mentors include Tony Albert, Maree Clarke, Peggy Griffiths, Jonathan Jones, Vincent Namatjira OAM, Denise Robinson, James Taylor and Pedro Wonaeamirri.
Structured to reflect and champion storytelling and knowledge-sharing systems that exist within First Nations communities through a creative artist-mentor relationship, the mentorship program aims to create a “major new platform for First Nations art and design in Australia”.
Following the exhibition, the eight artworks will be represented in the NGV collection – furthering an important creative legacy.
My Country is being shown at the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia until August 4, 2024 with free entry.
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