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  3. 4th National Indigenous Art Triennial: Ceremony

4th National Indigenous Art Triennial: Ceremony

Touring Exhibition
Araluen Arts Centre, NT
25 Mar – 11 Jun 2023
Black and white image

Hayley Millar Baker, Gunditjmara and Djabwurrung peoples, Nyctinasty, 2021, commissioned by the National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra for the 4th National Indigenous Art Triennial: Ceremony with the support of Kerry Gardner AM and Andrew Myer AM, and the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body, image courtesy the artist and Vivien Anderson Gallery © the artist

'Ceremony is testament that our culture has survived – not only over the many thousands of years but, particularly, the last couple of hundred years – because of its capacity for innovation and adaptability.'

Hetti Perkins

  • About
  • The Artists
  • Audio Tour
  • Publication
  • Dates & Venues
  • Stories
  • On Demand
  • History
  • Support Ceremony
  • Supporters

About


Ceremony remains central to the creative practice of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. This exhibition and program of events will animate and heal to reveal how ceremony is at the nexus of Country, of culture and of community.

From the intimate and personal to the collective and collaborative, ceremonies manifest through visual art, film, music and dance. Ceremonial practice has a performative element. At its heart is the concept of iteration, the artist’s conscious engagement with what has come before. Iteration can be expressed in the painted minutiae of tali (sandhills) or the click of a shutter.

The Triennial is the National Gallery’s flagship exhibition of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. The National Indigenous Art Triennial is made possible through the continued generosity of the National Gallery’s Indigenous Arts Partner Wesfarmers Arts and key philanthropic supporters.

Curator: Hetti Perkins, Arrernte and Kalkadoon peoples, Senior Curator-at-large, with National Gallery Curators

The Artists


Robert Andrew Yawuru people

Joel Bray Wiradjuri people

Kunmanara Carroll Luritja and Pintupi peoples

Penny Evans K/Gamilaroi people

Robert Fielding Western Arrernte and Yankunytjatjara peoples

Nicole Foreshew Wiradjuri people and Boorljoonngali Gija people

Margaret Rarru Garrawurra and Helen Ganalmirriwuy Garrawurra Liyagawumirr-Garrawurra peoples

Dr Matilda House and Paul Girrawah House Ngambri (Walgalu) – Wallaballooa (Ngunnawal) – Pajong (Gundungurra) – Wiradjuri (Erambie) peoples

Hayley Millar Baker Gunditjimara and Djabwurrung peoples 

Mantua Nangala Pintupi people

S.J Norman Wiradjuri people

Dylan River Kaytetye people

Darrell Sibosado Bard people

Andrew Snelgar Ngemba people

Joel Spring Wiradjuri people

James Tylor Kaurna people

Yarrenyty Arltere Artists: Marlene Rubuntja, Western Arrarnta people, Trudy Inkamala, Western Arrarnta and Luritja peoples, Dulcie Sharpe, Luritja and Arrernte peoples, Rhonda Sharpe, Luritja people, Roxanne Petrick, Alyawarre people, Nanette Sharpe, Western Arrarnta people, Sheree Inkamala, Luritja, Pitjantjara and Western Arrarnta peoples, Rosabella Ryder, Arrernte people, Louise Robertson, Walpiri people, Cornelius Ebatarinja, Western Arrarnta and Arrernte peoples

Tangentyere Artists: Betty Conway, Pitjantjatjara people, Nyinta Donald, Pitjantjatjara people, Sally M. Mulda, Pitjantjatjara and Luritja peoples, Majorie Williams, Western Arrarnta people, Lizzie Jako, Pitjantjatjara people, Grace Robinya, Western Arrarnta people, Doris Thomas, Luritja people

Gutiŋarra Yunupiŋu Gumatj people

Audio Tour


A woman standing in front of two large linework neon light designs are hung across a wide wall

Darrell Sibosado, Bard people, Ngarrgidj Morr (the proper path to follow), 2022, installation view, commissioned by the National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra for the 4th National Indigenous Art Triennial: Ceremony, image courtesy and © the artist.

Listen to Ceremony artists as you move through the exhibition on the free Audio Tour.

Access the tour on your device without needing to download an app. Don't forget to bring your headphones when visiting the Gallery.

Audio Tour

Publication


The 4th National Indigenous Art Triennial: Ceremony digital exhibition publication is the first of its kind for the National Gallery of Australia. Available on any device, the digital publication brings Ceremony to you, wherever you may be.

With more than 35 First Nations artists featured in the exhibition, the artist’s voice is front and centre in this digital publication, where you can hear directly from the artist about their practice, about what drives them to make art and what role ceremony plays in their life.

Travel to the artist’s Country via sumptuous moving image postcards, and explore their artworks through install, process and studio photography. Each artist’s page also includes a description of their new commission and the artist’s biography.

Curated by leading Arrernte/Kalkadoon curator Hetti Perkins, the fourth iteration of the National Gallery’s landmark Triennial explores “the prevalence of ceremony as a forum for artmaking today in First Nations communities” through the processes of iteration, activism, history and caring for Country. Perkins describes her approach as “inclusive … one that’s founded on listening, making sure that people who don’t have a voice can have one”. From performance and the moving image, to painting, photography, sculpture and immersive installations, Ceremony articulates the central role of art and artists in connecting community, culture and Country: “Our people still hold our ceremonial practices close. They are part of our everyday lives”.

View Digital Publication

Dates & Venues


National Gallery of Australia, ACT
26 Mar – 31 Jul 2022

Touring dates

2022/2023

  • The University of Queensland Art Museum (UQ), QLD
    27 Aug – 26 Nov 2022
  • Shepparton Art Museum, VIC
    17 Dec 2022 – 26 Feb 2023
  • Araluen Arts Centre, NT
    25 Mar – 11 Jun 2023
  • Samstag Museum of Art, UniSA, SA
    29 Sep – 8 Dec 2023

2024

  • Western Plains Cultural Centre, NSW
    20 Jan – 12 May 2024

Stories & Ideas

View all stories

Blak power

A soft sculpture depiction of Parliament House surrounded by soft sculptures of people and native Australian animals and protest signs

Artists Marlene Rubuntja and Nanette Sharpe explain their connection to their work Blak Parliament House and Mparntwe/Alice Springs.

Read Time 10 minutes

Mantua Nangala

A deep yellow pattern of repeated lines and dots

Papunya Tula artist Mantua Nangala talks with Hetti Perkins about the renowned Western Desert art movement and her major new triptych for Ceremony.

Read Time 18 minutes

Gutiŋarra Yunupiŋu – Communicating Country

Artist Gutiŋarra Yunupiŋu carrying a camera and wearing a bright orange t-shirt walking walking through his hometown of Yirrkala in Northeast Arnhem Land

Deaf artist Gutiŋarra Yunupiŋu (Guti) discusses with his family and teachers how his connection to Country helped him learn to communicate.

Read Time 13 minutes

James Tylor
Photo essay

Lit by a single light, James Tylor sits in his darkened studio holding a daguerreotype photographic plate with gloved hands. He wears black and white Adidas trainers, olive chinos and a Kathmandu winter coat. He has dark short hair.

Kaurna artist JAMES TYLOR uses the historical 19th century photographic process of the Becquerel daguerreotype to create contemporary images.

Read Time 8 minutes

Penny Evans
Studio spotlight

Penny Evans stands behind a large and full work bench making her artworks

Ahead of the opening of the '4th National Indigenous Art Triennial: Ceremony' we visit Kamilaroi/Gomeroi artist Penny Evans in her studio.

Read Time 9 minutes
First Nations

S.J Norman

Black and white photograph of Koori artist SJ Norman sitting at a table surrounded by animal bones

Koori artist S.J NORMAN discusses his work 'Bone Library' and collaboration with the National Gallery and community.

Read Time 28 minutes

Dylan River

A portrait of Dylan River standing outside.

Curator Kelli Cole, Warumungu/Luritja peoples writes on Mparntwe/Alice Springs-based filmmaker and Kaytetye man DYLAN RIVER.

Read Time 14 minutes

Ceremony Curator's Letter

Hetti Perkins stands in front of two artworks.

Hetti Perkins, Arrernte/Kalkadoon peoples, is curator of Ceremony, the 4th National Indigenous Art Triennial.

Read Time 25 minutes

Madhan warrugarra wirimbirra gulbalanha

Image of Dr Matilda House and Paul Girrawah House in front of a scar tree

Ngambri/Ngunnawal Traditional Custodian Paul Girrawah House discusses the traditional practice of tree scarring.

Read Time 15 minutes

On Demand


Conference /  Video

Curator Talk: Hetti Perkins
Keynote Presentation 2022

Hetti Perkins stands in front of two artworks.

Published 08 June 2022

Audio Tour Auslan Interpretation Open Captioning
70 minutes
Talks & Lectures /  Video

Art IRL: In conversation with Joel Spring

Published 30 April 2022

Join Youth Councillors Odette Miller and Matthew Hattrick in conversation with Ceremony artist Joel Spring.

Audio Tour Open Captioning
34 minutes
Talks & Lectures /  Video

The Moving Image with Hayley Millar Baker, Dylan River and Gutiŋarra Yunupiŋu

Screen shot of a film still showing a woman from behind, sitting on a bench and watching a large film projection

Published 05 April 2022

4th National Indigenous Art Triennial: Ceremony artists and curator Hetti Perkins come together for a panel discussion on contemporary film-making.

50 minutes
Talks & Lectures /  Video

Working with Country with Dr Matilda House & Paul Girrawah House, Robert Andrew and Nicole Foreshew

Published 05 April 2022

Ceremony artists and curator Hetti Perkins come together for a discussion on contemporary artistic and cultural practices of working with country.

58 minutes
Talks & Lectures /  Video

Politics of Performance with Joel Bray, S.J Norman & Darrell Sibosado

screenshot of a video still showing a neon light artwork installed in a gallery space

Published 05 April 2022

Ceremony artists and curator Hetti Perkins come together for a panel discussion on First Nations perspectives on contemporary performance practices.

59 minutes
  • History


    The National Indigenous Art Triennial is the National Gallery's flagship exhibition series. Led by a First Nations curator, the exhibition brings together commissioned work by established and emerging First Nations artists from across Australia, creating an important platform for art and ideas.

    Since the Triennial’s inception in 2007, more than 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists have had their work presented at the National Gallery.

    Defying Empire 2017

    Identity, racism, displacement, Country, nuclear testing, sovereignty and the Stolen Generations were explored across many media in the third Triennial. National Gallery Curator, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art, Tina Baum, Larrakia, Waradaman, Karajarri peoples stated: ‘We defy: by existing; by determining our identity; by asserting our histories; our culture; our language; by telling our stories, our way; by being one of the oldest continuous living cultures in the world.’

    unDisclosed 2012

    The spoken and the unspoken, the known and the unknown, what can be revealed and what cannot were explored in the second Triennial curated by Carly Lane, Kalkadoon people. As one review stated, ‘There is beauty in the works [Lane] has brought together, and contention too. Her premise: Indigenous people have been marginalised and are still suffering from the effects of that effacement; their task now is to claim and proclaim their identity, but also to manage their culture, to present it and to control its presentation.’1

    Culture Warriors 2007

    Advancing First Nations art and perspectives across the collection and program was the vision for the first Triennial curated by Brenda L Croft, Gurindji, Malngin, Mudburra peoples. The opening coincided with two significant anniversaries: the 1967 referendum—where non-Indigenous Australians voted overwhelmingly to count Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the census for the first time as citizens—and the establishment of NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee). Today, NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

    Support Ceremony


    With your help, we will be able to realise the ambitions of the Triennial and continue to champion the work of Australian artists, both through the exhibition and a dynamic program of events and publishing initiatives. Make a tax-deductible donation today – anything you can give will make a difference.

    Donate

    Supporters


    The National Indigenous Art Triennial is made possible through the support of corporate partners and key philanthropic supporters.

    A grid of a variety of logos indicating sponsors of the NIAT Ceremony Exhibition

    Related


    Exhibition

    National Indigenous Art Triennial: Culture Warriors

    Past Exhibition

    13 Oct 2007—10 Feb 2008

    The inaugural National Indigenous Art Triennial showcases Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contemporary art practice.

    Exhibition

    3rd National Indigenous Art Triennial: Defying Empire

    Past Exhibition
    A painting of many spears

    26 May—10 Sep 2017

    The 3rd National Indigenous Art Triennial brings the works of 30 contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from across the country.

    Exhibition

    2nd National Indigenous Art Triennial: unDISCLOSED

    Past Exhibition
    white and blue painting of a European graveyard with multicoloured native animals and a group of indigenous peoples around a campfire

    11 May—22 Jul 2012

    The second National Indigenous Art Triennial explored the spoken and the unspoken, the known and the unknown, what can be revealed and what cannot.

    Browse hundreds of current and past exhibitions

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