Ngura Puḻka – Epic Country: A Landmark Exhibition Amid Controversy
The National Gallery of Australia in Canberra has opened "Ngura Puḻka – Epic Country," featuring 30 large-scale paintings by Indigenous artists from the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands. The exhibition was originally scheduled to open in June 2023 but was postponed following allegations published by The Australian newspaper in April 2023 that led to multiple investigations.
Background and Allegations
In April 2023, The Australian published an article titled "White hands on black art," containing allegations that white studio assistants at the APY Arts Centre Collective (APYACC) had painted substantial sections of works credited to Indigenous artists and interfered with depictions of Aṉangu tjukurpa (ancestral stories/cultural law).
APYACC is an Aboriginal-owned and led association representing more than 500 Aṉangu artists across arts centres in the APY Lands.
The collective rejected the allegations, stating that art assistants participating in the painting process at artists' direction is standard practice and did not interfere with artistic control.
Investigations and Outcomes
National Gallery of Australia Review
The National Gallery of Australia commissioned an independent review of the 28 paintings originally destined for its exhibition. The review concluded the paintings met the gallery's provenance standards regarding whether attributed artists had exercised effective creative control.
Tina Baum, head curator of First Nations art at the National Gallery, stated the investigation found no warrant for the allegations and that the artists have full authorship of the exhibited works.
Government Investigations
The South Australian government conducted a separate review and referred findings to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (Oric).
- The ACCC found no breach of consumer laws.
- Oric concluded its investigation with no further action, stating that "no adverse inference" should be made.
Organizational Consequences
"They've had four reviews, and there were no findings that we were doing anything wrong. But we're still not getting approval for any federal funding." — George Cooley, artist and APYACC board member
- The Indigenous Art Code revoked APYACC's membership following the allegations.
- State and federal funding totaling $380,000 was suspended. State funding was later reinstated.
- APYACC states that expulsion from the Indigenous Art Code has adversely affected federal funding applications.
Exhibition Details
Scale and Scope
- 30 paintings by 49 artists
- 29 of the 30 works measure three meters by three meters
- The exhibition opened at the National Gallery in Canberra and will run until August 23
- National Gallery director Nick Mitzevich stated the APY Lands are home to approximately 2,000 people in 20 communities with more than 500 artists
Exhibition Content
The exhibition features paintings depicting aerial views of the APY Lands, including waterholes, riverbeds, spinifex, and earth tunnels formed by honey ants. Some paintings show key Aṉangu tjukurpa, including the story of the Seven Sisters.
The bulk of the works were produced during the COVID-19 pandemic as part of a collective project by arts centres in the APY Lands.
The exhibition is presented in partnership with APYACC and is supported by Tjala Arts, Mimili Maku Arts, Umoona Arts, Iwantja Arts, Kaltjiti Arts, Collective Art Centre Adelaide, and artists from Ernabella and Pipalyatjara.
Changes to the Exhibition
- Three paintings were withdrawn from the original 28: two for personal reasons relating to a single artist, and one due to a conflict of interest involving artist Sally Scales, who was appointed to NGA's council.
- Six new paintings were added to the exhibition.
- The National Gallery of Australia decided not to acquire any works from the exhibition, reversing its initial intention to purchase all 28 original paintings.
Legal and Financial Impact
APYACC filed a defamation lawsuit against Nationwide News, publisher of The Australian, seeking $4.4 million in damages. The claimed damages include:
- Loss of the NGA sale valued at $1,397,000
- Lost federal funding valued at $1.07 million
APYACC stated it suffered significant financial losses due to The Australian's reporting, including a downturn in sales and the loss of Indigenous Art Code membership affecting federal funding applications.
Artist and Leadership Statements
George Cooley
Artist and APYACC board member George Cooley, a Yankunytjatjara artist, described his painting 'Blue Ground Country' as depicting his country in Coober Pedy from a ground-level perspective, telling stories about country, hunting, camping, and looking for bush tucker.
Nyunmiti Burton
Artist Nyunmiti Burton, who appeared in The Australian's video making allegations, later retracted her statements, saying she regretted making the video and wished it would be taken offline.
Frank Young and Yaritji Young
Artist Frank Young, translating for his wife Yaritji Young, said: "Me and my wife and all the other artists, we really were sad about that video [of Yaritji's painting]." He stated The Australian's narrative was "wrong way" and "not real."
Sandra Pumani
Senior artist Sandra Pumani said Aṉangu artists "want to bring their story to other people" through their paintings. She stated her work is about the place where she grew up and that she is proud to showcase it.
Iluwanti Ken
Pitjantjatjara Elder, ngangkari (traditional healer), and award-winning artist Iluwanti Ken criticized the treatment of the collective in a letter dated May 22. Ken questioned how she can be celebrated as an important artist while being treated as though she does not belong in the industry.
She stated that the collective is not controversial but an Aboriginal-led organization built by and for Anangu people. Ken noted that the Indigenous Art Code has not reinstated APYACC despite being cleared, and that the collective lost funding and was excluded from industry opportunities including the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair and federal Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support funding.
Business Model
APYACC returns approximately 85% of income from sales directly to artists and art centres. George Cooley stated this model "opened the doorway for income generation for single mums, grandparents, young people."