Stunning salon of bark paintings sets new standard at NGV

Picking up on the immersive trend, the NGV has hung 160 bark paintings to trigger a fresh connection with viewers.
Visitors standing in gallery with floor to ceiling presentation of bark paintings. NGV

Opened this week (14 October), NGV Australia has presented a new approach to First Nations bark painting with the impressive hang, Bark Salon. The opening coincides with the first anniversary of the ‘No’ vote on last year’s Referendum for a First Nations voice in Parliament.

Walking into this space, it is as though an arena of voices surrounds the viewer. It feels very fitting, and a silent and smart act of affirmation.

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Gina Fairley is ArtsHub's National Visual Arts Editor. For a decade she worked as a freelance writer and curator across Southeast Asia and was previously the Regional Contributing Editor for Hong Kong based magazines Asian Art News and World Sculpture News. Prior to writing she worked as an arts manager in America and Australia for 14 years, including the regional gallery, biennale and commercial sectors. She is based in Mittagong, regional NSW. Twitter: @ginafairley Instagram: fairleygina