Writing in The Canberra Times (Panorama supplement) recently, journalist, Ian Warden highlighted the importance of being exposed to the finest art of the finest artists’ works. He was commenting on his visit to Canberra’s National Gallery’s exhibition of the works of senior Anmatyerr woman, Emily Kam Kngwarray. He opined that viewing such art improves our character-building wonders. As he noted: “I am a better, vastly improved man, less ignorant about and more sensitised to First Australians, after my visit…to the Emily Kam Kngwarray [exhibition]…We were awed.” It’s certainly very easy to agree with his sentiments – it is a wondrous exhibition – celebrating the timeless art of this pre-eminent Australian artist, one of the world’s most significant contemporary painters to emerge in the twentieth century. As the NGA notes, Kngwarray devoted her final years to painting, and creating works that bring together the experience and authority gained throughout her extraordinary life. As an extensive survey of her achievements, the exhibition encompasses the most important works of her oeuvre, from early vibrant batik textiles to later monumental paintings on canvas, textiles and works on paper from international and national collections. Many never-before-seen works from private collections are included, along with new acquisitions of the artist’s seminal works in the national collection. Building on the NGA’s Know My Name initiative which celebrates the works of all women artists, these exhibitions aim to improve the understanding of women artists’ contributions to Australia’s cultural life. Ian Warden also suggests that exposure to the fine arts should be made compulsory or at least be strongly incentivised by governments. Certainly, the Emily Kam Kngwarray is a reminder of the significance of such art, and the worth of another one of Canberra’s institutions.
