Ponch HAWKES<br/>
<em>No title (Two women embracing, 'Glad to be gay')</em> (1973); (2018) {printed} <!-- (recto) --><br />

gelatin silver photograph<br />
20.2 x 30.3 cm (image) 28.0 x 38.0 cm (sheet)<br />
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br />
Purchased NGV Foundation, 2018<br />
2018.1372<br />
© Ponch Hawkes, 2018
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10 Mar 22 – 21 Aug 22
Free entry

QUEER

Stories from the NGV Collection

NGV International

“Queer as a concept runs against all definitions, all fixed meaning, forever questioning, redeploying, twisting terms, texts and itself from conventional usage.” Christoph Ribbat, Professor of American Studies at the Universität Paderborn in Germany, and author of Queer and Straight Photography, published in the journal ‘Amerikastudien’, 2001.

QUEER shines a light on the NGV Collection to examine and reveal the queer stories works of art can tell. This exhibition of works from the NGV Collection spans historical eras and diverse media including painting, drawing, photography, decorative arts, fashion, video, sculpture, and design and explores queerness as an expression of sexuality and gender, a political movement, a sensibility, and as an attitude that defies fixed definition.

Rather than attempting to provide an definitive history of queer art, the exhibition explores the NGV Collection from a queer perspective, presenting and interpreting queer concepts and stories. Many works in the exhibition are by artists who identify as queer; some are by artists who lived in times when such identification was not possible; and some works are not by queer artists but have a connection to queer histories. The exhibition highlights that queerness is intersectional, and that LGBTQ+ rights are interwoven with other political and equality movements. Beyond exploring new layers of interpretation and reinvestigating conventional narratives, this exhibition also considers absences in the NGV Collection itself, by excavating queer history where it has been omitted or eclipsed, through oversight or intent.

QUEER: Stories from the NGV Collection includes approximately 400 artworks from antiquity to the present day, making the exhibition the most historically expansive thematic presentation of its kind ever presented by an Australian art institution.

QUEER: Stories from the NGV Collection is accompanied by a major publication, as well as a diverse range of programs and events.

The curatorial team thanks the many LGBTQ+ and queer organisations and community members who provided invaluable insight and feedback during the development of this exhibition.

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Design notes

Design notes

The Rainbow Flag

The cover of Queer: Stories from the NGV Collection references an iconic design in LGBTQ+ graphic history: the rainbow flag, which was conceived by artist and designer Gilbert Baker in 1978. Since the flag’s inception, there have been numerous revisions made to Baker’s original design to further represent marginalised members of the LGBTQ+ community, including people who identify as transgender and people of colour.

The Dover Serif Typeface

Dover Serif by queer type designer Robin Mientjes, is an exploration on the classic serif types. The type family is part of a research outcome Mientjes started in 2012, it is a revival of Caslon — an old style serif typically used for book setting.

Select Works

Dylan Mooney
Stuck on you 2020; 2021 {printed}
from the Queer, blak & here series 2020–21
inkjet print
(118.9 x 84.1 cm)
ed. 1/5
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Ruth Margaret Frances Houghton Bequest, 2021
2021.603.7
© Dylan Mooney
Agnes GOODSIR
The letter 1926
oil on canvas
81.0 x 65.3 cm
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Bequest of the artist, 1947
1779-4
Destiny Deacon
Where's Mickey? 2002; 2016 {printed}
lightjet photograph
100.0 x 80.0 cm (image) 124.1 x 104.1 cm (sheet)
artist's proof
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists, 2016
2016.618
© Estate of Destiny Deacon/ Licensed by Copyright Agency, Australia
Peter Behrens   
The kiss 1898  
colour woodcut printed in dark brown, light brown, olive green, blue, red and black 
27.2 x 21.6 cm (image)
36.1 x 27.6 cm (sheet)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
GREECE, Chalkis / ITALY
THE INSCRIPTIONS PAINTER (attributed to)
Psykter amphora (Chalkidian black-figure ware) 540 BCE
earthenware
(a-b) 60.2 x 37.1 x 34.9 cm (overall)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1956
1643.a-b-D4
Arone Raymond Meeks
Untitled 1984
pastel
47.0 x 22.0 cm
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of Gabriella Roy through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, 2020
2020.718
© Arone Raymond Meeks / Licensed by Copyright Agency
Robert NANTEUIL (engraver)
Sébastien BOURDON (after)
Christina, Queen of Sweden 1654
(Christine, Reine de Suede)
engraving
25.9 x 19.6 cm (image and sheet, trimmed within platemark)
3rd of 3 states
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Everard Studley Miller Bequest, 1959
509-5
David McDIARMID
Q (1994)
from the Rainbow aphorism series 1994
computer-generated colour laserprint
37.6 x 28.4 cm (image) 38.6 x 29.4 cm (sheet)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 1994
P139.12-1994
© David McDiarmid/Licensed by Copyright Agency, Australia
Hoda AFSHAR
Untitled #4 (2015); (2017) {printed}
from the Behold series 2015
inkjet print
95.5 x 120.0 cm (image) 127.1 x 142.8 cm (sheet)
ed. 2/5
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists, 2018
2018.37
© Hoda Afshar. Image courtesy of the artist and Milani Gallery, Meeanjin/Brisbane
Nan GOLDIN
Misty in Sheridan Square, NYC 1991; 2015 {printed}
cibachrome photograph
76.0 x 102.0 cm (sheet)
ed. 20/25
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased NGV Foundation, 2015
2015.395
© Nan Goldin, courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery
Ethel WALKER
Lilith (c. 1920s)
oil on canvas
173.5 x 107.3 cm
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1948
1842-4
José LÓPEZ
Luis MEDINA
Fullerton Avenue, Gay Parade (1976)
gelatin silver photograph
19.1 x 28.5 cm (image) 27.9 x 35.3 cm (sheet)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 1979
PH167-1979
© Estates of José López and Luis Medina
Duncan GRANT
The bathers (c. 1926-1933)
oil on paper on plywood
138.4 x 152.8 cm
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1948
1824-4
© Estate of Duncan Grant/DACS, London. Licensed by Copyright Agency, Australia
Zanele MUHOLI
Zinathi I (2015)
from the Somnyama Ngonyama series 2015–16
gelatin silver photograph
(68.2 x 42.9 cm) (image)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Bowness Family Fund for Photography, 2017
2017.459
© Zanele Muholi, courtesy of the artist, Yancey Richardson, New York, and STEVENSON, Cape Town/Johannesburg
MAITHIL
Shiva in the form of Ardhanarisvara (c. 1980)
watercolour, opaque watercolour and ink on paper
73.7 x 54.0 cm irreg. (image)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased NGV Foundation, 2007
2007.65
Leigh BOWERY
The Metropolitan (c. 1988)
cotton, rayon, leather, sequins, metal, paint
(a) 184.0 cm (centre back) 67.0 cm (sleeve length) (dress) (b) 125.0 cm (centre back) 77.0 cm (waist, flat) (outer petticoat) (c) 125.0 cm (centre back) 112.0 cm (waist, flat) (inner petticoat) (d) 109.0 x 8.0 cm irreg. (belt) (e) 50.0 x 8.0 cm (neck belt) (f-g) 21.0 x 12.0 cm irreg. (each) (gloves) (h) 91.0 cm (outer circumference) 19.0 cm (height) 23.5 cm (width) (helmet) (i-j) 24.0 cm (height) (each) 12.0 cm (width) (each) 26.0 cm (length) (each) (shoes)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 1999
1999.180.a-j
© Courtesy of the artist's estate
Albrecht DÜRER
St Sebastian at the tree (1501)
engraving
11.5 x 7.1 cm (image and plate) 11.6 x 7.2 cm (sheet)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1956
3468-4
WORCESTER ROYAL PORCELAIN CO., Worcester (manufacturer)
Aesthetic teapot 1882
porcelain
(a-b) 15.4 x 17.5 x 8.5 cm (overall)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
The Dr Robert Wilson Collection. Presented through the NGV Foundation by Dr Robert Wilson, Honorary Life Benefactor, 2002
2002.397.a-b
Dianne Jones
Woman in black Dress 2009
inkjet print
84.0 x 60.0 cm (image) 103.9 x 79.6 cm (sheet)
ed. 1/10
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists, 2021
2021.186
© Dianne Jones / Licensed by Copyright Agency, Australia
William YANG
William in scholar's costume 2008; 2014 {printed}
from the Old new borrowed blue series
inkjet photograph
79.0 x 52.0 cm
ed. 5/20
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists, 2014
2014.260
© William Yang
Robert Fielding
In our hands 2016
inkjet print
(a-i) 90.1 x 92.3 cm irreg. (overall)
ed. 1/5
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists, 2018
2018.32.a-i
© Robert Fielding/Copyright Agency, 2023
Hannah Brontë
Umma’s Tongue – molten at 6000° 2017
HD video, sound
4 min 50 sec
ed. 2/5
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists, 2019
2019.239
© Hannah Brontë
Ponch HAWKES
No title (Two women embracing, 'Glad to be gay') (1973); (2018) {printed}
gelatin silver photograph
20.2 x 30.3 cm (image) 28.0 x 38.0 cm (sheet)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased NGV Foundation, 2018
2018.1372
© Ponch Hawkes, 2018
Gilbert BAKER
Rainbow flag 1978 {designed}; 2018 {manufactured}
nylon flag with poles
91.4 x 152.4 cm
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased NGV Foundation, 2018
2018.1351
© The Gilbert Baker Estate
Andy WARHOL
The star 1981
from the Myths portfolio
colour screenprint and diamond dust
96.8 x 96.5 cm (image and sheet)
artist's proof 9/30
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of William Peter Kerr and Inars Uldis Lacis, 2015
2015.427
© The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc./ARS, New York. Licensed by Copyright Agency, Australia.
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QUEER: Stories from the NGV Collection

QUEER: Stories from the NGV Collection embraces the many associations of queerness as it is understood, experienced, and expressed in art, both now… Read more

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