Emily Kam Kngwarray Retrospective at Fondation Opale: The Country Is Alive

In Lens, Switzerland, Fondation Opale is showcasing the largest retrospective of Emily Kam Kngwarray ever seen in Europe, with over 80 artworks on display. Curated by Georges Petitjean, this exhibition highlights Kngwarray's vibrant painting career from 1989 to 1996, emphasizing the cultural threads of her Anmatyerr background. Developed in collaboration with the Utopia community and senior Anmatyerr custodians, the exhibition presents her art as a standalone contemporary expression, steering clear of Western modernist comparisons. The layout features larger later works on the ground floor and smaller earlier pieces upstairs, with batiks adorning the staircase. A special section is dedicated to Utopia community art. Works from more than twenty-five lenders, including significant Australian institutions and private collections, are included. Noteworthy are the Awely (ceremony) paintings, first displayed at the 1997 Venice Biennale, which impacted Sol LeWitt's conceptualism. Additionally, a recording of Kngwarray performing a ceremonial song is part of the exhibition. Fondation Opale also arranged for eight members of the Utopia community and Kngwarray's family to travel to Switzerland for the opening and consultations. The exhibition runs until 8 November 2026.