Exhibiting in Naarm/Melbourne, 'FUTURE COUNTRY' will display work from across Australia and demonstrate the diversity of contemporary First Nations art.
The commissions are developed through an National Gallery of Victoria mentorship program - pairing emerging First Nations creatives with established industry leaders, who nominate the early career artist they want to support.
Palawa/Pallawah woman Dr Jessica Clark, the NGV's Senior Curator of First Nations Art, told NITV that the exhibition invites artists and visitors to "look to the future while simultaneously acknowledging the past."
"It's an incredible opportunity for the artists really, to realise their most ambitious work to date - to work at scale, to work in new mediums, to explore new ways of working," she said.
The diversity of Indigenous art making
Burarra woman Stephanie Ali's installation suspends dilly bags, fish traps and fish fences, representing the inter-generational exchange of knowledge - supported by her mentor Doreen Jinggarrabarra.
Kaurna, Narungga and Ngarrindjeri artist Carly Tarkari Dodd utilises hand-stitched possum-cloaks to show 'mission mugshots' with Yhonnie Scarce as mentor.
Using slipcast techniques, Palawa and Warlpiri artist Nunami Scunthorpe-Green Lola Greeno recreates 200 supersized marina shells to display the NGV.
Yindjibarndi artist Katie West uses moving image to present and share the history of the Stolen Generations and their family, with mentor Clothilde Bullen.
A series of coolamons are presented and reimagined by Paul Girrawah House, a Senior Ngambri-Ngunnawal custodian with Wiradjuri, Walgalu and Ngunnawal ancestry. He is supported by Brenda L Croft.
In textile work, Nywaigi, Meriam and Manbarra woman Boneta-Marie Mabo worked with mentor Megan Cope to create 238 white cotton ragdolls in a rusted iron cot - representing 238 years of colonisation.
Wiradjuri and Ngiyampaa woman Charlotte Allingham presents a 'Maggie Doll' with Karla Dickens - a 'so cute, so lubly, so decolonial' piece with an accompanying lifesize doll box.
Pitta Pitta artist Jahkarli Felicitas Romanis' is mentored by Brook Andrew and uses large-scale landscape photographry to immerse viewers and prompt reflection on the treatment of Country.
FUTURE COUNTRY runs 20 Mar – 13 Sep '26 at the Ian Potter Centre, Federation Square, Melbourne.
