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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

(the moon climbs up the Leichardt tree), 2018

by Shirley Purdie

(the moon climbs up the Leichardt tree), 2018

“When the full moon come out, that means he climbing up this Leichardt tree when he’s a bit dull. That’s the story because when old people always been telling us. For this tree, he’s a girl tree this one, that’s why they call it Ngimillil. Some trees are boys and some are girls.”

The old people passed this story down to Shirley. When there is a dull full moon, it is believed that the moon climbed up the Leichardt tree, and that is how its bark got its colour – which is not a bright white, but a dull white.

So Fine
(More information, View all 98 images)

Jugurrul (bush orange tree)
Skin group from my mother’s side
Nambin (black headed python)
Ngalingalim berrem (Women’s one’s)

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Marilyn Ball, Albatross, 2018 (detail) by Linde Ivimey
Marilyn Ball, Albatross, 2018 (detail) by Linde Ivimey
Marilyn Ball, Albatross, 2018 (detail) by Linde Ivimey
Marilyn Ball, Albatross, 2018 (detail) by Linde Ivimey

So Fine

Contemporary women artists make Australian history

Previous exhibition, 2018

This exhibition features new works from ten women artists reinterpreting and reimagining elements of Australian history, enriching the contemporary narrative around Australia’s history and biography, reflecting the tradition of storytelling in our country.
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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