An independent review has been commissioned by the National Gallery of Australia for an upcoming exhibition of artworks from the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, often referred to as APY Lands, scheduled to run from 3 June to 8 October.
The review was prompted by explosive allegations that non-Indigenous arts workers had painted part of works attributed to Aboriginal artists.
The gallery has stated the review will focus on the provenance and creation of works in the exhibition called 'Ngura Pulka - Epic Country', describing the exhibition as "one of the largest and most significant First Nations community-driven art projects to have ever been developed".
"All parts of Ngura Pulka are being entirely conceived, created, directed, and determined by Aṉangu people," the APY Arts Centre Collective said.
The APY Lands in South Australia are home to the Anangu communities of approximately 2500 people.
The upcoming exhibition at Canberra's National Gallery of Australia will showcase works by artists from the APY Art Centre Collective, which represents seven arts centres, and includes award-winning artists from the region.
The allegations have emerged claiming that non-Indigenous arts workers interfered with the artists' work, including painting on the canvases.
In response to the allegations, the National Gallery of Australia announced that it is commissioning an independent review to assess the provenance, authorship and extent of any "hand of assistance" in the creation of the works.
A spokesperson for the APY Art Centre Collective said the organisation welcomed the independent review and will fully and openly participate.
"It is important to all of our artists that there is no question as to the integrity of our process of the creation of our art," they said.
The APY Art Centre Collective said in a statement its studios meet the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.
"The organisation has previously detailed the roles performed by arts assistants, including performing 'underpainting'", the statement said.
"It is in no way interfering with the artist's Tjukurpa (creation) or out of the ordinary for an art assistant to take part in this process, including slopping or spraying the wash on the canvas at this stage, at the artist's direction, Indigenous or otherwise," they said.
"True industry experts understand the line between assistance at artists' direction and interference with the artistic process and know that APY ACC has never crossed this line.
"It is grossly offensive to the many hundreds of proud Anangu who work with APY ACC to suggest otherwise, or that they would tolerate their Tjukurpa being interfered with."
Gabrielle Sullivan, chief executive of the Indigenous Art Code, an organisation that administers a voluntary code of conduct for art dealers and artists, told AAP her organisation was aware of the allegations.
"We acknowledge the courage it takes for artists to come forward and ask questions about their artistic business relationships and arrangements," she said.
"If you are an artist with concerns about how you have been treated by a business or individual involved in the facilitation, exhibition, promotion, licensing and selling of your artwork, please contact the Indigenous Art Code.
"The Indigenous Art Code is committed to ensuring that all artists are treated fairly and respectfully."
More to come.
