Australia’s richest woman seeks removal of her portrait from exhibition

Catherine Nicholls and Hilary Whiteman, CNN

(CNN) — Art is subjective. And while galore artists agelong to stock their activity pinch nan world, there’s nary guarantee that nan assemblage will understand it, aliases moreover for illustration it.

That surely seems to beryllium nan lawsuit pinch a coating by indigenous creator Vincent Namatjira, which includes a image of Australia’s richest person, mining magnate Gina Rinehart.

Rinehart has reportedly called for nan National Gallery of Australia (NGA) to region her portrait, 1 of 21 individual useful that dress up a azygous portion successful Namatjira’s accumulation “Australia successful Colour,” from display.

The accumulation has been moving astatine nan assemblage successful nan Australian capital, Canberra, since March.

Other subjects successful nan portion see nan precocious Queen Elizabeth II, American musician Jimi Hendrix, Australian Aboriginal authorities activistic Vincent Lingiari and nan former Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison.

Australian media has reported that Rinehart approached nan NGA’s head and chair to petition nan painting’s removal.

The NGA said successful a connection to CNN Thursday that it “welcomes nan nationalist having a speech connected our postulation and displays.”

“Since 1973, erstwhile nan National Gallery acquired Jackson Pollocks’ Blue Poles, location has been a move chat connected nan creator merits of useful successful nan nationalist collection, and/or connected show astatine nan Gallery,” nan NGA connection continued. “We coming useful of creation to nan Australian nationalist to animate group to explore, acquisition and study astir art.”

Namatjira said successful a connection that he paints “people who are wealthy, powerful, aliases important – group who person had an power connected this country, and connected maine personally, whether straight aliases indirectly, whether for bully aliases for bad.”

“I overgarment nan world arsenic I spot it,” he said. “People don’t person to for illustration my paintings, but I dream they return nan clip to look and think, ‘Why has this Aboriginal bloke painted these powerful people? What is he trying to say?’”

The coating of Rinehart is 1 of 21 portraits by creator Vincent Namatjira that characteristic successful his accumulation ‘Australia successful Colour.’ | Vincent Namatjira via CNN Newsource

“Some group mightiness not for illustration it. Other group mightiness find it funny. But I dream group look beneath nan aboveground and spot nan superior broadside too,” Namatjira added.

Rinehart is nan executive president of Hancock Prospecting, a privately owned mining institution that was founded by her father, Lang Hancock.

CNN has reached retired to Hancock Prospecting for remark but did not person a response.

Rinehart has an estimated nett worthy of $30.2 cardinal USD, according to Forbes. She “remained unshakable” astatine nan apical of Forbes’ Australia’s 50 Richest database for 2024, nan outlet reported successful February.

Australia’s National Association for nan Visual Arts (NAVA) has spoken retired to support Namatjira, CNN’s connection 9News has reported.

“While Rinehart has nan correct to definitive her opinions astir nan work, she does not person nan authority to unit nan assemblage into withdrawing nan coating simply because she dislikes it,” NAVA’s executive head Penelope Benton said, according to 9News.

NAVA offered its “unwavering support” to National Gallery of Australia, 9News reported, stating that it was concerned that Rinehart’s request to region nan image “sets a vulnerable precedent for censorship and nan stifling of imaginative expression.”