Conceived and produced by the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Connecting the Dots: First Peoples Art from the NGV with Tony Armstrong is a four-episode podcast series that delves into the stories, works and artists in the NGV’s globally significant collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and design.
Inspired by the new ground floor galleries Wurrdha Marra, located at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia from 12 October, the podcast series features interviews between Armstrong and trailblazing figures of First Peoples creativity who are challenging stereotypes and pushing contemporary discourse into new and surprising contexts. These include Destiny Deacon, Tony Albert, Keemon Williams and Amrita Hepi.
Through further conversations with NGV’s Director, Tony Ellwood AM, as well as Myles Russell-Cook and Sophie Gerhard, respectively Senior Curator and Curator of Australian and First Nations Art, the podcast will also contextualise the breadth and diversity of First Peoples art and design; how it has developed over 65,000 years; and the wealth disciplines used by contemporary practitioners working today.
Armstrong also speaks with Aunty Gail Smith, Wurundjeri Elder and Language Custodian from the Wurundjeri Council, who bestowed the new name Wurrdha Marra on NGVs ground floor Collection gallery, meaning ‘Many Mobs’ or ‘Many People’ in the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung language and reflects the diversity of Australian First Nations Communities.
The podcast is hosted by multiple Logie Award-winning broadcaster and journalist, Tony Armstrong. A former Australian Rules footballer, in 2019, Tony broke new ground by becoming the first Indigenous person to provide live commentary for AFL on commercial radio. Armstrong has also presented sport for News Breakfast on both ABC TV and the ABC News channel since 2021, as well as other standalone documentary series.
Listen to the podcast below or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon.