JGM Gallery presents Ngurra – paintings by First Nations Australian artists

JGM Gallery presents Ngurra, a scintillating exhibition of artworks by 14 distinguished artists.

“Ngurra” means “Country” in various Indigenous Australian languages, representing a profound connection to land, water, and sea, encompassing spiritual and cultural values beyond the Western concept of land. This exhibition unites the works of First Nation Australian artists interpreting Country through their unique lens, blending practical land depictions with abstract elements.

Artists like Keith Wikmunea offer vivid portrayals of natural resources, while others, such as Mary Gibson and Kitty Simon, skilfully merge realism with abstraction. These artworks vividly portray Country as an active, integral part of Indigenous life, often using intricate dot and line work to create a dynamic, transformative effect.

The exhibition gains additional significance considering the historical context of colonisation and environmental impact. Lindsay Nelson’s pieces, for example, blend traditional landscapes with mining maps, providing a powerful social critique and highlighting the contrast between Aboriginal and Western views of nature.

Jennifer Guerrini Maraldi, Director of JGM Gallery, says: “There is an aesthetic sophistication to these landscapes that is sadly often overlooked by followers of the Western Canon. Expressed in these paintings is not just beauty and power, but the wisdom of the world’s oldest unbroken culture.”

Featured artists include Bob Gibson, George Cooley, Judith Walkabout, Keith Wikmunea, Kitty Simon, Lily Hargraves, Lindsay Malay, Lindsay Nelson, Lydia Balbal, Marcus Camphoo, Mary Gibson, Patrick Mung Mung, Selma Hoosan, and Carissa Gurwalwal.