NATIONAL ANTHEM

8 March - 7 July 2019

Brook Andrew Emu 2004, The University of Melbourne Art Collection, Michael Buxton Collection Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Michael and Janet Buxton 2018 © the artist

Guest Curated by Kate Just

Presenting a cacophonous array of artistic voices and perspectives, National Anthem brings together 24 artists, from a range of generations, who critically address Australian national identity. Built around key works in the Michael Buxton Collection, together with works sourced from beyond the collection, this project reflects on the ways that the desire for a singular national identity often excludes Indigenous histories and denies the multiplicity of voices, cultures and experiences that enrich, contest and enhance Australian life.

Channelling humour and satire and engaging in tactics such as play, intervention and confrontation, the artists in National Anthem seek self-determination and collectively hold a mirror up to contemporary Australia, prompting new representations of who we are or who we might aspire to become.

Artists: Brook Andrew, Abdul Abdullah, Kay Abude, Hoda Afshar, Tony Albert, Ali Gumillya Baker, Archie Barry, Richard Bell, Daniel Boyd, Juan Davila, Destiny Deacon, Janenne Eaton, Tony Garifalakis, Eugenia Lim, Tracey Moffatt, Callum Morton, Hoang Tran Nguyen, Raquel Ormella, Mike Parr, Steven Rhall, Tony Schwensen, Christian Thompson, Paul Yore and Siying Zhou

Download wall labels HERE.
Education Resource available HERE.

IN THE MEDIA
National Anthem / A New Order – Arts Review
National Anthem – John Buckley, Art Almanac