Australian mining billionaire* Gina Rinehart has reportedly* demanded a painting of her which she deems unflattering* be removed from display at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra.
Her portrait* appears alongside many others, including Queen Elizabeth II, AFL player Adam Goodes and former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, in an exhibition* by acclaimed* Archibald Prize-winning Indigenous artist Vincent Namatjira.
Namatjira’s work is known for his paintings that are caricatures* of people in almost cartoonish like forms.
One of King Charles, for instance, shows him in the Australian desert in full regalia* with seemingly no neck.
On the NGA website, Ms Rinehart is listed as a “friend” of the gallery as she has donated up to $9999.
The NGA has refused to move the painting, which will be on display until July 21.
It was hung in March as part of the Vincent Namatjira: Australia in colour exhibition which features 21 pieces of his work.
“Since 1973, when the National Gallery acquired Jackson Pollack’s Blue Poles, there has been a dynamic discussion on the artistic merits of works in the national collection, and/or on display at the gallery,” the NGA said in a statement.
“We present works of art to the Australian public to inspire people to explore, experience and learn about art.”
POLL
GLOSSARY
- billionaire: a person who has one billion dollars or more
- reportedly: according to what some people say
- unflattering: not making someone look good
- portrait: a painting, drawing, or photograph of a person, especially one depicting only the face or head and shoulders
- exhibition: a public showing of art or other interesting things
- acclaimed: praised or approved by many people
- caricatures: drawings that exaggerate certain features for a comic or funny effect
- regalia: special clothes and decorations worn for official ceremonies
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QUICK QUIZ
- Who is the artist of the Gina Rinehart painting that the billionaire reportedly demanded to be removed from the National Gallery of Australia?
- Which exhibition features Gina Rinehart’s portrait and how many pieces of artwork does it include?
- What type of artwork is Vincent Namatjira known for creating?
- Why did Gina Rinehart’s company, Hancock Prospecting, end its sponsorship deal with Netball Australia in 2022?
- How has the National Gallery of Australia responded to the complaints about Gina Rinehart’s portrait?
LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Whose side are you on?
Who do you think is right in this situation- Gina Rinehart or the National Gallery of Australia? Write detailed and convincing reasons for your opinion.
Time: allow at least 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Visual Arts
2. Extension
If you could create a portrait of anyone at all, who would it be, why did you choose them and how would you show or portray them? Write detailed answers to these questions. Then, create the portrait. Use any medium you want – draw, paint, make a collage or go digital.
Time: allow at least 60 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Visual Arts
VCOP ACTIVITY
Summarise the article
A summary can be a really good way to grab the main idea plus some key points in the article as a highlight. Think of the summary like a little advertisement or extract you could use to encourage people to read the article in detail. You want to give them an overview of the article that includes the main idea (being able to tell the audience what the article is about in one sentence), plus a few of the key points of the information.
Remember to re-read your summary to check that it is clear, concise and makes sense to the audience who haven’t read the article yet. You need to make language choices that allow you to explain the information in only a few sentences.