National Gallery launches inaugural podcast series with Jennifer Higgie

Contemporary artists shed light on works of art from the national collection that inspire, move or intrigue them in new National Gallery podcast.

The National Gallery is launching Artists’ Artists, a podcast series connecting audiences with works of art from the national collection through the lens of contemporary artists Julie Rrap, Danie Mellor, Bridget Riley, Janet Laurence and Albert Yonathan Setyawan.

The five-part series invites audiences to learn more about some of the treasures and lesser-known works of art in the national collection, as well as gain insight into the personal life experiences and stories of Australian and international artists.

Artists’ Artists is hosted by Jennifer Higgie, an Australian writer and the former editor of the London-based arts magazine, frieze. Higgie's recent books include The Other Side: A Journey into Women, Art and the Spirit World and The Mirror and the Palette: 500 Years of Women's Self Portraits. She is also the presenter of Bow Down, a podcast about women in art history, and the editor of National Gallery publication The Annual.

'It has been a joy to interview these extraordinary artists for the National Gallery's new podcast,' Higgie said. 'Their selection of works of art from the national collection is illuminating, insightful and gripping. I've learned so much from them and I'm sure you will too.'

Gallery Director Dr Nick Mitzevich says, ‘Like the collection we steward, we evolve. In this spirit, developing a podcast is an important opportunity to connect all audiences with the national collection. I hope listeners enjoy this new initiative and the stories and ideas from the National Gallery's community of artists.’

Taking inspiration from the National Gallery’s new members publication The Annual, and the editorial of the same name, Artists’ Artists features:

Episode One: Julie Rrap

Julie Rrap is an Australian artist who was born in 1950 and lives in Warrang/Sydney. She has 15 works in the national collection, including multiple works from her monumental Persona and shadow series 1984. In this episode, she speaks about works of art by Sol Wiener, Sarah Lucas, Tracey Moffatt and Yukultji Napangati.

Episode Two: Danie Mellor

Danie Mellor is an Australian artist of Ngadjon and Mamu heritage who was born in 1971 and lives in Bowral, NSW. There are 33 works of art by Mellor in the national collection, including An Elysian city (of picturesque landscapes and memory) 2010. In this episode, he speaks about works of art by John Mawurndjul AM, Sidney Nolan, Margaret Preston and Anselm Kiefer.

Episode Three: Bridget Riley

Briget Riley is a British artist who was born in 1931 and lives in London, UK. The National Gallery has 15 works of art by Riley in its collection, including recent acquisition Dancing to the music of time 2022. In this episode she speaks about her own work, and works of art by Jackson Pollock, Howard Taylor and Georges Seurat.

Episode Four: Janet Laurence

Janet Laurence is an Australian artist who was born in 1947 and lives in Warrang/Sydney. In 2020-21, her work was included in National Gallery exhibition Know My Name: Australian Women Artists 1900 to Now: Part One. Laurence has nine works in the national collection, including the large-scale installation Requiem 2020. In this episode, she speaks about works of art by Eva Hesse, Robert Smithson, Rosalie Gascoigne and Nyapanyapa Yunupingu.

Episode Five: Albert Yonathan Setyawan

Albert Yonathan Setyawan is an Indonesian ceramic artist who was born in 1983 and is based in Tokyo, Japan. The National Gallery has one work by Setyawan in its collection, ceramic installation Shelters 2018–19. In this episode, he speaks about works of art by Giorgio Morandi, Lucie Rie, Wolfgang Laib and Agnes Martin.

Artists’ Artists is available to stream now. Subscribe via your favourite podcast app or listen online.

This is a people powered podcast made possible through micro donations to the National Gallery, made at point-of-sale in the Art Store and online.

IMAGES
Available here

LISTEN
Artists’ Artists podcast

STORIES & IDEAS

Artists' Artists: Julie Rrap

Artists' Artists: Danie Mellor

Artists' Artists: Bridget Riley

Artists' Artists: Janet Laurence

Artists' Artists: Albert Yonathan Setyawan

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