MELBOURNE.- The National Gallery of Victoria showcases a decade of contemporary Australian artworks with Negotiating this world: Contemporary Australian Art.

Reflecting the breadth of artistic practice in Australia, Negotiating this world includes more than 100 works by contemporary Australian artists of diverse cultural backgrounds and practices, exploring their response to issues of identity, modernity, history, conflict and environmental concern.

Tony Ellwood, Director, NGV, said, “Negotiating this world highlights the tremendous contemporary Australian works that have been acquired by the NGV over the last decade through the Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists (VFLAA).

“The VFLAA was established in 2002 and since its inception has resulted in the acquisition of 380 artworks for the NGV. These works demonstrate the immense creative vigour and talent of artists working in Australia today.”

Negotiating this world features works from over fifty emerging, mid and late-career artists including Rob McLeish, Siri Hayes, Christian Bumbarra Thompson, Emily Floyd, Mira Gojak and David Noonan. The artists in the exhibition utilise painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, photography, video, film and installations to collectively question the role of art in the face of a rapidly changing social, political, environmental and economic global climate.

Jane Devery, Assistant Curator, Contemporary Art, NGV, said, “Negotiating this world is centred around the idea that we are all, in varying ways, trying to find our way in the world. The exhibition encompasses a range of artistic positions and, at times, divergent viewpoints on how we see the world we live in and make sense of the conditions of our times.”

To mark the tenth anniversary of the VFLAA, a major publication is being released, 101 Contemporary Australian Artists. This comprehensive volume showcases the artistic practice of 101 of Australia’s most celebrated contemporary practitioners, ranging from emerging artists to established senior figures, whose works have been acquired through the VFLAA. Featuring full-page illustrations, as well as accounts of each artist written by leading NGV curators, this volume recognises the differing perspectives and agendas of contemporary artists, and the important contribution they make to our community. 101 Contemporary Australian Artists will be available from late October at the NGV Shop.

Negotiating this world forms part of NGV Summer, an exciting program of exhibitions and events at the NGV encouraging visitors to engage with and participate in great art over the warmer months. The exhibition will also coincide with the 10 year anniversary of the opening of The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia.

All works assembled in Negotiating this world were acquired by the VFLAA for the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria and for touring and lending to the regional and metropolitan galleries of Victoria. The VFLAA is generously supported by Arts Victoria.

Negotiating this world: Contemporary Australian Art is on display at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia from 28 September 2012 to early 2013. Open 10am–5pm, Tues–Sun. Entry is free.

Artists in Negotiating this world: Contemporary Australian Art
Vernon Ah Kee, Brook Andrew, Paddy Bedford, Richard Bell, Andrew Browne, Christian Bumbarra Thompson, Stephen Bush, Christian Capurro, Eugene Carchesio, Jon Cattapan, Nadine Christensen, Domenico de Clario, Janenne Eaton, Emily Floyd, Mari Funaki, Marco Fusinato, Tony Garifalakis, Diena Georgetti, Mira Gojak, Peter Graham, Charles Green and Lyndell Brown, Siri Hayes, Cecilia Heffer, Bill Henson, Helen Johnson, David Jolly, Rosemary Laing, Nusra Latif Qureshi, Janet Laurence, Richard Lewer, Nick Mangan, Sally Marsland, Helen Maudsley, Moya McKenna, Rob McLeish, Graham Miller, Callum Morton, Walangkura Napanangka, Tom Nicholson, John Nixon, David Noonan, Lena Nyadbi, Simon Obarzanek, Stieg Persson, Rosslynd Piggott, David Rosetzky, Matthew Sleeth, Sally Smart, John Spiteri, Daniel von Sturmer, Simon Terrill, Hossein Valamanesh, Savanhdary Vongpoothorn, John Wolseley and Guan Wei.