Art Gallery of Western Australia receives a visit from the Governor

The Governor visited the Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA) to view some of the rich artwork by Aboriginal artists and to receive an update on the renovations underway, bringing art and entertainment together against Perth’s beautiful city skyline.

Greeted by Brian Stewart, Deputy Director and Ian Strange, Artist Director, the Governor was briefed on the Gallery’s rooftop redevelopment site Elevate. AGWA’s exciting redevelopment project will create the largest, commercially-available rooftop venue in Perth, accommodating up to 500 people. The centrepiece of the rooftop is a new 34-metre-long contemporary Aboriginal art piece by Noongar/Minang artist Christopher Pease, commissioned for the State Art Collection and funded by the Foundation through the TomorrowFund.

Upon completion, the rooftop will feature an open-air sculpture walk featuring works from the State Art Collection, a new internal gallery space for exhibitions and events, and two outdoor multi-purpose spaces with brilliant city, hill and museum views. Elevate will open up a whole new space for enjoying arts and entertainment in WA when it opens in early 2021.

The Governor started the art tour with a walk through the WA Focus gallery, presenting works from the 1920’s to today. This display highlights some of the different, and often conflicting stories, as it brings together works from 1920 to the present by WA Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists.

Combined, they demonstrate the shifting approaches to art-making as it intersects with the changing culture, politics and environment that make up our state.

WA Focus celebrates Western Australian art across two galleries. Start your visit with a walk through the WA Focus gallery, presenting works from the 1920s to today.

The Governor then walked through the current Six Seasons exhibition. Outside: Matters of the heart in Indigenous art explores among a number of subjects the history and experiences of being an outsider in white Australian society.

Curated by Carly Lane, AGWA Curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art, it represents a space for multiple voices and shared narratives, where contested histories are confronted and cultural stories celebrated. At a time when the injustices of racism and inequality are magnified, this exhibition signals our commitment to ensure that all voices and stories are heard, and to stand up against racism in any form. As AGWA Director Colin Walker affirms, “we stand in solidarity with those fighting to end systemic racism and the violence that racism inflicts on the Black community.”

The Governor is Proud to be the patron of the Art Gallery of WA Foundation.

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