Beyond The Veil

Emily Kame Kngwarreye

Evelyn Pultara

Gabriella Possum Nungarrayi

Gayla Pwerle

Polly Ngale

The Women's Collaborative

Olsen Gruin is pleased to present Beyond The Veil, a group exhibition of Central Desert Paintings curated by the President of the Aboriginal Art Association of Australia, Adam Knight.

Beyond The Veil celebrates the divine use of dots by Australian Aboriginal artists. It honors the unique method of layering and the shimmering presence of dots throughout the whole of each canvas by the true inventors of this now praised artistic style. As Aboriginal art further secures its place as a significant movement in the international art world, it is undeniable that non-indigenous artists from around the globe will find inspiration within these prized works.

It is widely accepted that Australian Aboriginals have the oldest continuous culture on the planet. The rise of contemporary Australian Aboriginal art was described by art critic and writer Robert Hughes, as “the last great art movement of the twentieth century.” Whilst the works are considered contemporary, they are derived from a cultural awareness and sacred knowledge that remains preserved by artists such as those exhibited here.

Beyond the Veil aims to remind viewers of the cultural narrative that celebrates the presence of the dot and acknowledges the genius of its use by its originators: the artists from Australia’s first people.