The national collection - a diversity of riches
Established in 1967 the National gallery of Australia is Australia's premier art gallery and museum and is a very popular attraction for visitors. This gallery holds over 120,000 pieces of art, including a purchase in 1974 of Blue Poles by artist Jackson Pollock - at the time worth over $1.3 million, but considerably more now.
Numerous diverse collections and works of art are displayed within the gallery. Australian colonial, aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artworks are particularly strongly feaatured in the national collection. Significant Modern art works are also strongly represented, along with select art pieces from Europe's medieval, renaissance and impressionist periods.
Other significant collections include Asian sculptures and Buddha figures, aswell as an exceptional collection of South East Asian Batik and textile exhibits. An impressive gallery of contemporary photography artists is also well worth viewing.
Indigenous art works
Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art is a popular attraction with one installation featuring 200 tree trunks that are painted, and which commemorate indigenous people who passed away between 1788 and 1988 when they defended their land against those invading. Each of the 200 trunks represent a log coffin also known as a "dupun" which is used to ensure the safe transition of the soul from this world to the next. This significant work was used to mark the Australian bicentenary and was on display in 1988 in the biennale of Sydney. Purchase was agreed upon for the piece to be on permanent display in the National gallery of Australia before it was even completed.
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Picture Gallery
National Gallery Australia