The National 2017: Sydney's Tri-Venue Exhibition Surveys Contemporary Australian Art
On 30 March 2017, The National, a significant group exhibition featuring 45 artists, commenced across three venues in Sydney: the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Carriageworks, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, with displays running until 16 July, 25 June, and 18 June respectively. The exhibition focused on themes of identity, celebrating diversity and polyphony. Notable works included Archie Moore's 'United Neytions' at Carriageworks, Nicholas Mangan's 'Limits to Growth' and Keg De Souza's 'Changing Courses' at the Art Gallery, as well as Zanny Begg and Elise McLeod's 'City of Ladies' at the Museum. ArtReview Asia featured the exhibition in its Autumn 2017 edition, marking the first of three planned versions for 2019 and 2021.
Key facts
- The National featured 45 artists across three Sydney venues
- Exhibition dates: 30 March – 16 July at Art Gallery of New South Wales, 30 March – 25 June at Carriageworks, 30 March – 18 June at Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
- Archie Moore's 'United Neytions' referenced R. H. Mathews' 1900 map of 28 Aboriginal nations
- Nicholas Mangan's 'Limits to Growth' included Bitcoin mining computers and explored Yap's rai stone currency
- Zanny Begg and Elise McLeod's 'City of Ladies' featured interviews with Hélène Cixous, Silvia Federici, Sam Bourcier, Fatima Ezzahra Benomar, and Sharone Omankoy
- Keg De Souza's 'Changing Courses' used vacuum-packed foods representing Sydney's ethnic communities
- Alex Martinis Roe's video installation examined the University of Sydney's General Philosophy Department in the 1970s-80s
- The exhibition was the first of three planned iterations, with subsequent editions in 2019 and 2021
Entities
Artists
- Archie Moore
- Nicholas Mangan
- Keg De Souza
- Alex Martinis Roe
- Zanny Begg
- Elise McLeod
- Alex Gawronski
- Christine de Pizan
- R. H. Mathews
- Hélène Cixous
- Silvia Federici
- Sam Bourcier
- Fatima Ezzahra Benomar
- Sharone Omankoy
- Georges Perec
- R.H. Mathews
- Cameron Robbins
- Wona Bae
- Charlie Lawler
- Sancintya Mohini Simpson
- Vernon Ah Kee
- Dalisa Pigram
- Isobel Parker Philip
- Daniel Mudie Cunningham
- Clothilde Bullen
- Anna Davis
Institutions
- Art Gallery of New South Wales
- Carriageworks
- Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
- University of Sydney
- General Philosophy Department
- ArtReview Asia
- Marrugeku
Locations
- Sydney
- Australia
- Paris
- France
- Yap
- Micronesia
- Broome
- Western Australia
- New South Wales