The National Gallery of Australia director sent a warning to the federal arts minister that mining billionaire was ‘rallying’ influential friends, documents reveal
Vincent Namatjira’s painting in the NGA of Gina Rinehart was seen by millions around the world, after she complained about it.Vincent Namatjira’s painting in the NGA of Gina Rinehart was seen by millions around the world, after she complained about it.Documents revealed gallery director Nick Mitzevich said he wanted to alert the government about the campaign “in case these matters are raised by the Leader of the Opposition , so the Minister can be prepared”.
Namatjira’s portrait of Australia’s richest woman was one of many works unveiled at the Canberra gallery as part of thefirst major survey exhibition, ‘Australia in Colour’. It hung alongside images of Queen Elizabeth II, football player Adam Goodes, Ned Kelly, and a self-portrait of the artist himself.Nine newspapers reported Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers and Swimming Queensland CEO Kevin Hasemann had also campaigned for its removal.
On 11 April, Mitzevich wrote to the ministerial office of Burke, the arts minister, and another employee of the arts department, about some of the complaints the NGA had received. The documents do not contain any indication of complaints raised by Dutton. It appears Dutton also never made any public comments about the portrait. Dutton’s office was contacted for comment, as was Rinehart through Hancock Prospecting.Guardian Australia understands Burke’s office made no intervention on whether the portrait should be displayed or not.The names of the recipients of Mitzevich’s 11 April email were redacted, but two had an arts.gov.au email address, and one had an mo.arts.gov.
Other complaints to the gallery described Rinehart’s portrait as “disrespectful and offensive”, claiming it subjected her to “ridicule and belittlement”.
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