Vincent Namatjira’s ‘King Dingo’ Reigns in Sydney at Ames Yavuz

31 Aug 2024

Vincent Namatjira’s highly anticipated exhibition King Dingo has captured the attention of Australian press, with prominent coverage by journalist Liz Hobday. Her article has been featured across several major media platforms, including SBS, The Canberra Times, The Newcastle Herald, and The Advocate.

In her coverage, Hobday speculates whether the artist’s latest series, featuring “a character named King Dingo dressed in royal regalia,” could be a satirical commentary on power and colonisation, possibly directed at King Charles III.

In response, the Western Aranda artist clarifies, “The royal family, it’s not much to do with them at all.”

He further explains, “King Dingo, the uniform and costume and all that, represents me.”

Hobday also highlights some of Namatjira’s recent milestones, including the release of his Thames and Hudson monograph and his Australia in Colour exhibition, which toured the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra. However, Namatjira gained wider media attention when Australia’s richest woman, mining magnate Gina Rinehart, demanded the National Gallery remove his less-than-flattering portrait of her from the exhibition in May—a move that received international coverage.

“To be honest, with this stuff that’s going on in the media about whatever that Rinehart’s talking about, she’s making me more famous,” Namatjira told AAP.

Despite clarifying the personal nature of King Dingo, Namatjira revealed that he will continue to paint famous Australians, stating that there is no shortage of public figures for his subversive portraits in the future.

In addition to Namatjira’s royal depictions of dingos, the exhibition will also showcase collaborative works by Alec Baker, a founding artist of Iwantja Arts, and Eric Barney, who will be attending the opening.

“I just want to shine some light on them, and also want them to be more acknowledged and recognised, that’s why I want them to be shown in this exhibition,” said Namatjira.

Together, the artists present two perspectives of Australia – King Dingo‘s modern interpretation and a traditional Indigenous cultural approach.

“I’m more open, and I’m good to try anything new, that kind of thing – I’m always willing.”

Namatjira’s exhibition will be on view until 5 October 2024.

Artwork: Vincent Namatjira, King Dingo (Self-portrait), 2024, acrylic on Linen, 152 x 167 cm. Courtesy of the artist and Iwantja Arts