Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Australia

Showing Original Post only (View all)

sl8

(16,284 posts)
Wed May 15, 2024, 10:41 AM May 2024

Billionaire Calls for Removal of 'Unflattering' Portrait from National Gallery of Australia [View all]

https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/gina-rinehart-vincent-namatjira-painting-billionaire-removal-request-national-gallery-of-australia-1234706891/

Billionaire Calls for Removal of ‘Unflattering’ Portrait from National Gallery of Australia

BY ALEX GREENBERGER
May 15, 2024 10:45am



Vincent Namatjira with various portraits by him, including one of Gina Rinehart, third from left in the bottom row.
©VINCENT NAMATJIRA/COPYRIGHT AGENCY/PHOTO IWANTJA ARTS/COURTESY THE ARTIST AND IWANTJA ARTS


Gina Rinehart, the richest person in Australia, has reportedly called on Canberra’s National Gallery of Australia to take down a painting of her by Aboriginal artist Vincent Namatjira.

It wasn’t immediately clear what had moved Rinehart, a donor to the National Gallery of Australia, to make the request, but it was clear, at least, that Namatjira’s portrait was viewed as being not the kindest representation of her. Both the Guardian and the Sydney Morning Herald used the word “unflattering” to describe the picture, which renders her skin a pinkish color, exaggerates the folds on her chin, and turns her lips downward into a frown.

The painting is one of nearly two dozen portraits that appears in Namatjira’s current retrospective at the museum, which traveled the show from the Art Gallery of South Australia in Adelaide.

In Australia, Namatjira is well-known and much-loved. He became the first Indigenous artist to win the Archibald Prize, a prestigious Australian award for portraiture, in 2020.

[...]




1 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Australia»Billionaire Calls for Rem...»Reply #0