(Photo: National Gallery of Australia / Vincent Namatjira)
Recently, Gina Rinehart, who currently holds the title of Australia's richest woman, has requested that the National Gallery of Australia dismantle a portrait that she did not fancy. Rinehart is Hancock Prospecting, an Australian mineral exploration and extraction company's 70-year-old Executrix Chair lady with a net worth of $30 billion (£15.9 billion).
The Portrait and Artist
This work forms a collection of artworks by the acclaimed Aboriginal painter Vincent Namatjira, who organized a large-scale painting exhibition. There is also an indication of persons such as the late Queen Elizabeth II, Musician Jimi Hendrix, and the sportsman Adam Goodes. Despite this, there is information that Rinehart does not like how Namatjira portrayed her, with many physical alterations like the shape of the face and the added double chin typical to the artist's manner of painting.
The Financial Review has reported that several of Rinehart's associates have warned the National Gallery in a few words that they want their portrait taken off. This campaign has been said to have been run for some time underground. However, those attempts have not convinced the National Gallery to accept Rinehart's offer.
National Gallery's Response
The director of the National Gallery, Nick Mitzevich, criticized the decision to keep the portrait that depicted the former Prime Minister on the wall, stressing the freedom of art and how it reminded him about the controversy that emerged during the discussion of the acquisition of Jackson Pollock's Blue Poles in 1973. He said that the gallery's design provides art pieces that focus on members of society to discover, engage, and make meaning of the displayed pieces.
After emailing her representatives for an interview, The Independent has not yet received a response from Gina Rinehart's side.
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Social Media Reaction
This issue has received quite a lot of attention on a social media platform where some users make fun of Rinehart, who wanted the portrait taken. This phenomenon has become popularly known as the Streisand effect after a case in 2003 when Barbra Streisand sought to remove photos of her house in Malibu from the internet, only to publicize the images to a broader group of individuals.
One amused X (formerly Twitter) user commented on the situation, noting the irony of Rinehart's demand. Another user suggested using the image as a profile picture supporting the National Gallery's stance.
LOL Australia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart, has demanded the National Gallery of Australia remove a portrait of her from an exhibition by Archibald Prize-winning Indigenous artist Vincent Namatjira. #streisandeffect much 🤣😂🤣😂 pic.twitter.com/OiynivuDMX
— Angry Goddess (@AngryGoddessx) May 15, 2024
The portrait, now the center of a national discussion, exemplifies the ongoing tension between artistic expression and public figures' perceptions. Namatjira, known for his bold and distinctive style, has often used his art to challenge and provoke thought, making Rinehart's reaction a testament to the power of his work.
The National Gallery of Australia continues to stand by its decision, maintaining that the role of art is to provoke and engage the public. As the debate continues, Vincent Namatjira's portrait of Gina Rinehart has undoubtedly achieved a level of prominence and discussion that few other pieces in the exhibition have garnered.
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