Entertainment · Books & Arts · 2 hrs ago
NGV opens first major Australian solo exhibition of Atong Atem's art
The National Gallery of Victoria is showing Atong Atem's work in the first major Australian solo exhibition of the Melbourne-based artist.
Born in Ethiopia to South Sudanese parents, Atem and her family moved to Australia in 1997.
Her photographs explore identity, family memory and migration, drawing on African studio photography, family archives, Catholic imagery and science fiction.
Her self-portraits also honour Dinka Bor culture, whose traditions and stories are rooted in South Sudan.
The exhibition includes works premiering in Australia and worldwide, including the full presentation of some series.
It considers how histories of displacement, colonialism and trade connect with personal and cultural identity.
The free exhibition runs at the Ian Potter Centre until 14 June.
The National Gallery of Victoria has opened the first major Australian solo exhibition of Melbourne artist Atong Atem.
The exhibition, The Art of Atong Atem, is at the Ian Potter Centre in Federation Square and runs from Friday until 14 June.
Atem’s work draws on African studio photography, family archives, Catholic imagery and science fiction.
Her art also explores Dinka Bor culture, identity, migration, memory and colonialism.
The exhibition includes works premiering in Australia and worldwide, as well as series shown in their entirety for the first time.
- Who
- The National Gallery of Victoria is presenting the exhibition of artist Atong Atem.
- What
- The Art of Atong Atem is the artist’s first major solo exhibition in Australia.
- When
- It runs from Friday until 14 June.
- Where
- The Ian Potter Centre in Federation Square, Melbourne.
- Why
- The exhibition explores themes including identity, heritage, migration and memory through Atem’s art.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The exhibition opens at the Ian Potter Centre.
The exhibition is scheduled to end.
- Venue
- Ian Potter Centre, Federation Square
- Exhibition
- The Art of Atong Atem
- End date
- 14 June
- Australian premiere
- Scars and Constellations
- Artist’s background
- Born in Ethiopia to South Sudanese parents; lives in Naarm/Melbourne
What people are saying
If the body is a terrain, who gets to be the geographer and who becomes the cartographer?