Thea Anamara Perkins works across portraiture and landscape to interrogate and reclaim agency over representations of First Nations peoples and Country. Through her artistic practice she upholds a familial legacy of Arrernte/Kalkadoon activists and creatives that includes civil rights activist Charles Perkins AO (her grandfather), curator Hetti Perkins (her mother) and her aunt, film director and screenwriter Rachel Perkins (b. 1970), who appears in this portrait. At 22 Rachel Perkins founded the production company Blackfella Films, who are responsible for TV series such as First Australians, Redfern Now and Total Control. Her director credits include the acclaimed feature films Radiance, Bran Nue Day, One Night the Moon and Jasper Jones.
In painting this portrait, Thea said she wanted to acknowledge what her aunt had achieved as a filmmaker. The ochre designs on Rachel's skin belong to a women's ceremonial song which resonated with the artist as a 'joyful assertion of the incredible matriarchy in our culture, our Dreaming … melding beautifully with the contemporary experience of a First Nations person on the journey to preserve our dynamic culture'.
Purchased 2022
© Thea Anamara Perkins
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves.
Joanna Gilmour reflects on 25 years of collecting at the National Portrait Gallery.
from Saturday 15 March
Gallery Three features major new acquisitions, collection highlights and favourites.
