The Dreamers celebrates the lives and outstanding work of eight distinguished Aboriginal artists who have contributed significantly to Australia’s cultural landscape through their creative endeavors. The exhibition is drawn exclusively from the Art Gallery of New South Wales’s collection, and includes artists from across the country, working in diverse mediums and styles. Fundamental to each of the artists included is their innovation within tradition, which has led to sustained and successful careers. Drawing on the strength of their country and culture these artists are dreamers who have created a new vision, revolutionizing Aboriginal art and greatly enhancing our shared cultural heritage.
The exhibition profiles major bodies of work by Ginger Riley Munduwalawala, Dr. David Malangi, Munggurrawuy Yunupingu, Judy Watson, Rusty Peters, Ronnie Tjampitjinpa, John Mawurndjul, and Kitty Kantilla. It draws comparisons with key works by other artists with whom they share a synergy.
Ginger Riley Munduwalawala transformed Aboriginal art and, indeed, Australian art. Drawing on his Mara heritage and the country of his southeast Arnhem Land home, he creates vibrant works forging an idiosyncratic and lasting vision of his beloved country. Adventurous and monumental, his works show an incredible facility with color. After just ten years of painting he became the first Aboriginal artist to be honored with a retrospective at an Australian public art gallery.
