Latest news with #AustralianIndigenous
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Major wing of New York's famed Met reopens with work by First Nations artists
New York: When an institution as large and prestigious as the Metropolitan Museum of Art embarks upon a major project, it takes time. The remaking of its Michael C. Rockefeller wing, which houses the Met's enviable collection of 650 works from Oceania, began 10 years ago at a planning retreat outside the city. Shuttered since the pandemic, the wing reopened last weekend, including new works by Aboriginal Australian artists at a time when Indigenous art is earning a growing following in the finely tuned and highly competitive New York art world. 'There's a lot of interest and patronage,' says Maia Nuku, the Met's curator for Oceanic art. 'There are particular collectors who have been really invested in making sure these works of art come to major US institutions … It's been ticking away.' Some of those people, including American actor Steve Martin and gallerist D'Lan Davidson, gathered at the Asia Society's head office in Manhattan last week for a conversation about the ethics and resonance of collecting Australian Indigenous art. But there are swings and roundabouts. A major Sotheby's auction of Indigenous Australian art on May 20 was a fizzer, with just 24 of 65 lots sold. It was the first such auction in New York since the prominent Indigenous art champion and consultant Tim Klingender died in a freak boating accident on Sydney Harbour in July 2023. There is a degree of macabre symmetry with Michael Rockefeller, the member of the storied Rockefeller family for whom the Met's wing is named. He was believed to have died when his boat capsized off the coast of then Dutch New Guinea in 1961 – although there has long been a sense of mystery hanging over his disappearance. Unlike Klingender, his body was never found. The Australian section of the Rockefeller wing is modest, but in a prominent location. It features two newly acquired bark cloth paintings by the late Yolŋu artist Nonggirrnga Marawili from her series Baratjala, including a bright work from late in her career when she began experimenting with vibrant pinks extracted from discarded magenta printer cartridges, mixed with natural clay and ochres. 'She didn't want to limit herself to the ochres and the browns,' says Nuku.
The Age
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
Major wing of New York's famed Met reopens with work by First Nations artists
New York: When an institution as large and prestigious as the Metropolitan Museum of Art embarks upon a major project, it takes time. The remaking of its Michael C. Rockefeller wing, which houses the Met's enviable collection of 650 works from Oceania, began 10 years ago at a planning retreat outside the city. Shuttered since the pandemic, the wing reopened last weekend, including new works by Aboriginal Australian artists at a time when Indigenous art is earning a growing following in the finely tuned and highly competitive New York art world. 'There's a lot of interest and patronage,' says Maia Nuku, the Met's curator for Oceanic art. 'There are particular collectors who have been really invested in making sure these works of art come to major US institutions … It's been ticking away.' Some of those people, including American actor Steve Martin and gallerist D'Lan Davidson, gathered at the Asia Society's head office in Manhattan last week for a conversation about the ethics and resonance of collecting Australian Indigenous art. But there are swings and roundabouts. A major Sotheby's auction of Indigenous Australian art on May 20 was a fizzer, with just 24 of 65 lots sold. It was the first such auction in New York since the prominent Indigenous art champion and consultant Tim Klingender died in a freak boating accident on Sydney Harbour in July 2023. There is a degree of macabre symmetry with Michael Rockefeller, the member of the storied Rockefeller family for whom the Met's wing is named. He was believed to have died when his boat capsized off the coast of then Dutch New Guinea in 1961 – although there has long been a sense of mystery hanging over his disappearance. Unlike Klingender, his body was never found. The Australian section of the Rockefeller wing is modest, but in a prominent location. It features two newly acquired bark cloth paintings by the late Yolŋu artist Nonggirrnga Marawili from her series Baratjala, including a bright work from late in her career when she began experimenting with vibrant pinks extracted from discarded magenta printer cartridges, mixed with natural clay and ochres. 'She didn't want to limit herself to the ochres and the browns,' says Nuku.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Throne speech was an 'emotional moment' for the King, Buckingham Palace says
Some observant royal watchers thought King Charles looked emotional at times throughout his trip to Canada last week — and a Buckingham Palace spokesperson confirms to CBC News that the normally stoic monarch found delivering the throne speech to be a particularly poignant moment. "His Majesty was deeply moved and touched by the enthusiastic response to his visit," the palace spokesperson said. "On the speech, the standing ovation in particular was an unexpected and emotional moment for His Majesty. You can hear his voice go a bit crackly in the final lines." Footage shows Charles looking pleased by the warm reception he received as the assembled dignitaries rose to applaud him and his speech. Charles's line about Canada "indeed" being the Truth North "strong and free" was particularly well received in the Senate chamber. There was no act of protest like when an Australian Indigenous senator shouted at the King in Parliament during his visit to that realm last year. WATCH | King Charles gets a standing ovation in Parliament: His voice then wavered and his eyes appeared to well up as he said the final line to the gathered parliamentarians: "May you honour the profound trust bestowed upon you by Canadians, and may God bless and guide you in all your duties." Charles also seemed to tear up outside the Senate building as thousands of people watched him arrive in the royal landau and inspect the military honour guard while the Royal Canadian Air Force band played O Canada. After the speech, he cheerfully greeted many of the onlookers and there were no obvious signs of protest. "It was the warmest of welcomes and the fondest of returns to a nation and a people we love," Charles and Queen Camilla themselves said in a joint statement released after they left Ottawa. WATCH | The royal parade to Parliament: The U.K. press took note of Charles's unusual display of emotion on this trip — his 20th official visit to Canada and his first as monarch. "Royals don't normally 'do' emotion, at least they do their very best to hide whatever feeling they have. But for some reason, King Charles seemed unable to do that on this occasion at the end of a short, but highly significant, visit," ITV's royal correspondent Chris Ship wrote in his coverage of the speech. In an interview with CBC News, Justin Vovk, a royal historian at McMaster University, said there was "more emotion than we've come to expect from members of the royal family." "I think Charles was taken aback somewhat. The King had been itching to get here and eager to make his presence felt in Canada but no one really knew what kind of reaction he would receive," Vovk said. "Journalists, academics, royalists, we were all watching and wondering: would there be a tepid turnout? Would there be protests? And I think once Charles saw the level of reaction from the people, it floored him; it seems he wasn't expecting it." The emotion may also have been driven by just how high-stakes the visit was for him and the country, Vovk said. In the face of American taunts and insults, Prime Minister Mark Carney pressed Charles into service, asking the head of state to assert Canada's sovereignty in the first throne speech delivered by a monarch in nearly 50 years. It was a diplomatic balancing act because Charles, as the sovereign of 15 realms, had to fulfil his duties as King of Canada without torpedoing Anglo-American relations given there's a sometimes mercurial president in the Oval Office and the U.K. is also facing trade threats. "Opening Parliament, reading the speech from the throne, these are the most significant constitutional roles that the sovereign plays in our political system," Vovk said. "He understood the weight of it politically, personally and dynastically," he said. Plus, Vovk said, for Charles, "Canada has deep meaning for him and deep meaning for his family." The King's favoured relative, his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and his own mother, Queen Elizabeth, made dozens of trips to Canada and wrote and spoke fondly about their experiences. Those sentiments have seemingly rubbed off on him, Vovk said. The Queen Mother, writing to Princess Margaret in 1958, said: "I have a feeling that Canada gives one a boost. They are so nice and so loving and the Mounties are so beautiful and so romantic." Looking back at her historic 1939 tour with King George VI on the eve of the Second World War — the first time a reigning monarch had been in North America — the Queen Mother said: "Canada made us." Queen Elizabeth, who personally witnessed seminal moments in the nation's history including the repatriation of the Constitution, described Canada as "home." "Charles is acutely aware that he and his family have had a presence in Canada at crucial moments. This is one of those moments," Vovk said. "He delivered, very deliberately, slogan-worthy, quotable lines — the True North, strong and free, Canada seeping into his bloodstream and straight to the heart. Those will be phrases associated with the monarchy in Canada for a very long time," he said. As for whether Charles's ongoing cancer battle may have played into his emotional reaction, Vovk said it's hard to say. "It's impossible to speculate on what goes on behind the curtain with the sovereign," he said.
AU Financial Review
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- AU Financial Review
Sotheby's bets on New York demand for Indigenous art
Australian Indigenous art will once more feature in New York's glamour spring auction calendar this month, after a hiatus forced by the boating death of pioneering Sydney art consultant Tim Klingender. Klingender's tragic death off Sydney Heads in 2023, when he had just returned from leading Sotheby's last successful auction of Indigenous art in New York, caused Sotheby's to shelve the 2024 edition for which Klingender was the kingpin and driver.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rio Tinto increases Australian supplier spend to A$17.7 billion
MELBOURNE, Australia, April 03, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rio Tinto strengthened its spend with Australian businesses to over A$17.7 billion in 2024, supporting both national and local suppliers. This is an increase of 9.9% from the previous year and was spent with more than 6,000 suppliers across the country. This spend has helped boost local, regional, and national economies, contributing to employment and strengthening Australian owned and managed businesses. As part of this spend, more than A$926 million was spent with 182 Indigenous businesses across Australia – an increase of about 27% since 2023. Of this, A$671 million was spent with Traditional Owner businesses that we have land use agreements with, contributing directly to the economic strength of the communities where we operate. Spending with local suppliers across Australia also increased by 14.8%, reaching A$1.3 billion. Rio Tinto Chief Executive, Australia, Kellie Parker said: "From one side of the country to the other, our suppliers - including Indigenous, small, and regional businesses - are at the heart of our success and ability to operate in Australia. Their contributions help keep local communities strong. "We recognise the important role these Australian businesses play in creating jobs, strengthening local economies and supporting our operations. That's why we continue to increase our investment with them. "In 2024, we expanded our spend with Australian Indigenous businesses by 27.5% to A$926 million and with local businesses across Australia by 14.8% to A$1.38 billion. These partnerships drive economic growth and strengthen the communities they serve." View source version on Contacts Please direct all enquiries to Media Relations,United Kingdom Matthew Klar M +44 7796 630 637David Outhwaite M +44 7787 597 493 Media Relations, Australia Matt Chambers M +61 433 525 739Michelle Lee M +61 458 609 322Rachel Pupazzoni M +61 438 875 469 Media Relations, Canada Simon Letendre M +1 514 796 4973Malika Cherry M +1 418 592 7293Vanessa Damha M +1 514 715 2152 Media Relations, US Jesse Riseborough M +1 202 394 9480 Investor Relations, United Kingdom Rachel ArellanoM: +44 7584 609 644David Ovington M +44 7920 010 978Laura Brooks M +44 7826 942 797Weiwei Hu M +44 7825 907 230 Investor Relations, Australia Tom Gallop M +61 439 353 948Amar Jambaa M +61 472 865 948 Rio Tinto plc 6 St James's SquareLondon SW1Y 4ADUnited KingdomT +44 20 7781 2000Registered in EnglandNo. 719885 Rio Tinto Limited Level 43, 120 Collins StreetMelbourne 3000AustraliaT +61 3 9283 3333Registered in AustraliaABN 96 004 458 404 Category: General
