Always Was Always Will Be: Celebrating sovereignty and storytelling through art
From Monday, 26 May 2025 Western Sydney University will be hosting the Always Was Always Will Be exhibition which explores Aboriginal self-determination through art and activism.
Marking 50 years since the handback of the Northern Territory cattle station, Wave Hill, where Prime Minister Gough Whitlam poured earth into the hands of Vincent Lingiari in a symbolic gesture of returning lands back to the Gurindji people, the exhibition tells the story of community leaders, artists, and voices who have continued to fight for their homelands, waterways, and health.
Guest curator, Kyra Kum-Sing from the Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative, feels privileged to bring this exhibition to Western Sydney University and the Margaret Whitlam Galleries, noting that the themes addressed in the exhibition are ongoing issues within the community.
“Land Rights and Native Title were and still are big issues, and I wanted to acknowledge and pay tribute to the amazing achievement by the Gurindji people, while also focusing on the key stories of NSW language group peoples,” said Ms Kum-Sing.
Western Sydney Creative Director, Dolla Merrillees, said she is honoured that Western Sydney Creative is able to support Always Was Always Will Be, an exhibition that speaks to the enduring strength, sovereignty, and creative brilliance of First Nations artists.
“This collaboration with Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative is a testament to the power of art as activism, and to the stories that continue to shape our cultural and political landscape,” said Ms Merrillees.
“We are proud to stand with these artists in amplifying voices that have always been here, and always will be.”
The exhibition includes work from prominent artists including:
- Jeffrey Samuels
- Euphemia Bostock (1936-2024)
- Arone Meeks (1957-2021)
- Michael Riley (1960-2004)
- Dr. Bronwyn Bancroft AM
- Brenda L. Croft
- Avril Quaill
- Nadeena Dixon
- Gordon Syron
- Danny Eastwood
- Jamie Eastwood
- Debra Beale
- Re-right Collective (Dennis Golding and Carmen Glynn-Braun)
- Rubyrose Bancroft
- Hayley Pigram
- Frank McLeod
- Kyra Kum-Sing
With special thanks to Aunty Christine Donnelly, Aunty Maria ‘Polly’ Cutmore, Aunty Monica Morgan, Shawn, and Elaine Syron.
The exhibition also includes historical material on loan from the Whitlam Prime Ministerial Collection, along with items from the Western Sydney University Art Collection, the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, and the Powerhouse Museum.
The exhibition runs from Monday, 26 May 2025 to Tuesday, 29 August 2025 and is open to the public every Wednesday and Thursday. Plan your visit or find out more on the Western Sydney Creative website
ENDS
29 May 2025
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