Canberra, Australia

Mining magnate Gina Rinehart has requested the National Gallery of Australia to take down her portrait from an exhibition by artist Vincent Namatjira. The portrait, which some may consider demeaning, is among many artworks put up at the Canberra gallery in Namatjira's first major exhibition. Despite Rinehart's request, the National Gallery has refused to remove the portrait, stating that it encourages public discourse regarding its collection and exhibitions.

Advertisment

“Since 1973, when the National Gallery acquired Jackson Pollock’s Blue Poles, there has been a dynamic discussion on the artistic merits of works in the national collection, and/or on display at the gallery,” it said.

“We present works of art to the Australian public to inspire people to explore, experience and learn about art,” the National Gallery added.

The portrait of Rinehart is displayed alongside portraits of Queen Elizabeth II and footballer Adam Goodes and is scheduled to remain on exhibit until July 21.

Advertisment

Before being showcased in Canberra, the painting was publicly displayed in Adelaide for several months during its initial exhibition at the Art Gallery of South Australia from October 2023 to January 2024.

The South Australian gallery has confirmed that no requests were made for the removal of the painting.

Additionally, a reproduction of the portrait is included in a prestigious Thames & Hudson monograph about Namatjira's work, published to coincide with the exhibition.

Advertisment

Rinehart is listed as a friend of the National Gallery for donating between $4,999 and $9,999 to the institution.

Also read | Australia increases minimum savings limit for student visa, Indians to be impacted

Rinehart's controversial actions and Namatjira's artistic journey

In 2023, Gina Rinehart withdrew a $15 million sponsorship from Netball Australia after Indigenous netballer Donnell Wallam requested that her uniform not bear the Hancock Prospecting logo.

Rinehart later established a $3 million fund to reward athletes who achieved gold medals or set world records in swimming, artistic swimming, rowing, and volleyball.

Vincent Namatjira made history in 2020 as the first Aboriginal artist to win the Archibald Prize with his portrait of Goodes, using satirical humour to challenge societal power dynamics.

Also read | Walking barefoot on streets is in vogue in Australia. But what’s driving this trend?

In one of his recent works featured in the exhibition, Namatjira portrays King Charles III uncomfortably standing in the central desert, in a bid to subvert the royal family's authority and privilege.

Namatjira, born in Alice Springs, was raised in foster care in Perth from age six, leading to a disconnection from family, land, and culture. Unaware of his lineage to renowned watercolorist Albert Namatjira until adulthood, Vincent was surprised to learn of his artistic heritage and the heft of his family name.

(With inputs from agencies)