Ponch HAWKES<br/> <em>No title (Two women embracing, 'Glad to be gay')</em> (1973); (2018) {printed} <!-- (recto) --><br /> gelatin silver photograph<br /> 20.2 x 30.3 cm (image) 28.0 x 38.0 cm (sheet)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased NGV Foundation, 2018<br /> 2018.1372<br /> © Ponch Hawkes, 2018 <!--137840-->

QUEER

Stories from the NGV Collection

NGV International

10 Mar – 21 Aug 22

“Queer as a concept runs against all definitions, all fixed meaning, forever questioning, redeploying, twisting terms, texts and itself from conventional usage.”

– Christoph Ribbat, Professor of American Studies at the Universität Paderborn in Germany, and author of Queer and Straight Photography , published in the journal ‘Amerikastudien’, 2001.

QUEER shines a light on the NGV Collection to examine and reveal the queer stories works of art can tell. This exhibition of works from the NGV Collection spans historical eras and diverse media including painting, drawing, photography, decorative arts, fashion, video, sculpture, and design and explores queerness as an expression of sexuality and gender, a political movement, a sensibility, and as an attitude that defies fixed definition.

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Installation views

Installation view of <em>Queer: Stories from the NGV Collection</em>. Photo: Peter Bennetts 2022<br/> © Peter Bennetts 2022 Installation view of <em>Queer: Stories from the NGV Collection</em>. Photo: Peter Bennetts 2022<br/> © Peter Bennetts 2022 Installation view of <em>Queer: Stories from the NGV Collection</em>. Photo: Peter Bennetts 2022<br/> Installation view of <em>Queer: Stories from the NGV Collection</em>. Photo: Peter Bennetts 2022<br/> Installation view of <em>Queer: Stories from the NGV Collection</em><br/> Installation view of <em>Queer: Stories from the NGV Collection</em><br/> Installation view of <em>Queer: Stories from the NGV Collection</em><br/> Installation view of <em>Queer: Stories from the NGV Collection</em><br/> Installation view of <em>Queer: Stories from the NGV Collection</em><br/> Installation view of <em>Queer: Stories from the NGV Collection</em><br/> Installation view of <em>Queer: Stories from the NGV Collection</em><br/> Installation view of <em>Queer: Stories from the NGV Collection</em><br/> Installation view of <em>Queer: Stories from the NGV Collection</em><br/> Installation view of <em>Queer: Stories from the NGV Collection</em><br/> Installation view of <em>Queer: Stories from the NGV Collection</em><br/> Installation view of <em>Queer: Stories from the NGV Collection</em><br/> Installation view of <em>Queer: Stories from the NGV Collection</em><br/> Installation view of <em>Queer: Stories from the NGV Collection</em><br/> Installation view of <em>Queer: Stories from the NGV Collection</em><br/> Installation view of <em>Queer: Stories from the NGV Collection</em><br/> Installation view of <em>Queer: Stories from the NGV Collection</em><br/>

Virtual Tour

Select works

Dylan Mooney<br/> <em>Stuck on you</em> 2020; 2021 {printed} <!-- (recto) --><br /> from the <i>Queer, blak & here</i> series 2020–21<br /> inkjet print<br /> (118.9 x 84.1 cm)<br /> ed. 1/5<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Ruth Margaret Frances Houghton Bequest, 2021<br /> 2021.603.7<br /> © Dylan Mooney <!--147876--> Agnes GOODSIR<br/> <em>The letter</em> 1926 <!-- (recto) --><br /> oil on canvas<br /> 81.0 x 65.3 cm<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Bequest of the artist, 1947<br /> 1779-4<br /> <!--5633--> Destiny Deacon<br/> <em>Where's Mickey?</em> 2002; 2016 {printed} <!-- (recto) --><br /> lightjet photograph<br /> 100.0 x 80.0 cm (image) 124.1 x 104.1 cm (sheet)<br /> artist's proof<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased, Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists, 2016<br /> 2016.618<br /> © Estate of Destiny Deacon/ Licensed by Copyright Agency, Australia <!--122163--> Peter Behrens    <br/> <em>The kiss </em>1898   <br/> colour woodcut printed in dark brown, light brown, olive green, blue, red and black  <br/> 27.2 x 21.6 cm (image)<br/> 36.1 x 27.6 cm (sheet) <br/> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br/> GREECE, Chalkis / ITALY<br /> THE INSCRIPTIONS PAINTER (attributed to)<br/> <em>Psykter amphora (Chalkidian black-figure ware)</em> 540 BCE <!-- (full view) --><br /> earthenware<br /> (a-b) 60.2 x 37.1 x 34.9 cm (overall)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Felton Bequest, 1956<br /> 1643.a-b-D4<br /> <!--1315--> Arone Raymond Meeks<br/> <em>Untitled</em> 1984 <!-- (recto) --><br /> pastel<br /> 47.0 x 22.0 cm<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Gift of Gabriella Roy through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, 2020<br /> 2020.718<br /> © Arone Raymond Meeks / Licensed by Copyright Agency <!--144714--> Robert NANTEUIL (engraver)<br /> Sébastien BOURDON (after)<br/> <em>Christina, Queen of Sweden</em> 1654 <!-- (recto) --><br /> <em>(Christine, Reine de Suede)</em><br /> engraving<br /> 25.9 x 19.6 cm (image and sheet, trimmed within platemark)<br /> 3rd of 3 states<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Everard Studley Miller Bequest, 1959<br /> 509-5<br /> <!--22659--> David McDIARMID<br/> <em>Q</em> (1994) <!-- (recto) --><br /> from the <i>Rainbow aphorism</i> series 1994<br /> computer-generated colour laserprint<br /> 37.6 x 28.4 cm (image) 38.6 x 29.4 cm (sheet)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased, 1994<br /> P139.12-1994<br /> © David McDiarmid/Licensed by Copyright Agency, Australia <!--55244--> Hoda AFSHAR<br/> <em>Untitled #4</em> (2015); (2017) {printed} <!-- (recto) --><br /> from the <i>Behold</i> series 2015<br /> inkjet print<br /> 95.5 x 120.0 cm (image) 127.1 x 142.8 cm (sheet)<br /> ed. 2/5<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased, Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists, 2018<br /> 2018.37<br /> © Hoda Afshar. Image courtesy of the artist and Milani Gallery, Meeanjin/Brisbane <!--132445--> Nan GOLDIN<br/> <em>Misty in Sheridan Square, NYC</em> 1991; 2015 {printed} <!-- (recto) --><br /> cibachrome photograph<br /> 76.0 x 102.0 cm (sheet)<br /> ed. 20/25<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased NGV Foundation, 2015<br /> 2015.395<br /> © Nan Goldin, courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery <!--117535--> Ethel WALKER<br/> <em>Lilith</em> (c. 1920s) <!-- (recto) --><br /> oil on canvas<br /> 173.5 x 107.3 cm<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Felton Bequest, 1948<br /> 1842-4<br /> <!--4447--> José LÓPEZ<br /> Luis MEDINA<br/> <em>Fullerton Avenue, Gay Parade</em> (1976) <!-- (recto) --><br /> gelatin silver photograph<br /> 19.1 x 28.5 cm (image) 27.9 x 35.3 cm (sheet)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased, 1979<br /> PH167-1979<br /> © Estates of José López and Luis Medina <!--8749--> Duncan GRANT<br/> <em>The bathers</em> (c. 1926-1933) <!-- (recto) --><br /> oil on paper on plywood<br /> 138.4 x 152.8 cm<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Felton Bequest, 1948<br /> 1824-4<br /> © Estate of Duncan Grant/DACS, London. Licensed by Copyright Agency, Australia <!--3993--> Zanele MUHOLI<br/> <em>Zinathi I</em> (2015) <!-- (recto) --><br /> from the <i>Somnyama Ngonyama</i> series 2015–16<br /> gelatin silver photograph<br /> (68.2 x 42.9 cm) (image)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Bowness Family Fund for Photography, 2017<br /> 2017.459<br /> © Zanele Muholi, courtesy of the artist, Yancey Richardson, New York, and STEVENSON, Cape Town/Johannesburg <!--123025--> MAITHIL<br/> <em>Shiva in the form of Ardhanarisvara</em> (c. 1980) <!-- (recto) --><br /> watercolour, opaque watercolour and ink on paper<br /> 73.7 x 54.0 cm irreg. (image)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased NGV Foundation, 2007<br /> 2007.65<br /> <!--82394--> Leigh BOWERY<br/> <em>The Metropolitan</em> (c. 1988) <!-- (front view) --><br /> cotton, rayon, leather, sequins, metal, paint<br /> (a) 184.0 cm (centre back) 67.0 cm (sleeve length) (dress) (b) 125.0 cm (centre back) 77.0 cm (waist, flat) (outer petticoat) (c) 125.0 cm (centre back) 112.0 cm (waist, flat) (inner petticoat) (d) 109.0 x 8.0 cm irreg. (belt) (e) 50.0 x 8.0 cm (neck belt) (f-g) 21.0 x 12.0 cm irreg. (each) (gloves) (h) 91.0 cm (outer circumference) 19.0 cm (height) 23.5 cm (width) (helmet) (i-j) 24.0 cm (height) (each) 12.0 cm (width) (each) 26.0 cm (length) (each) (shoes)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased, 1999<br /> 1999.180.a-j<br /> © Courtesy of the artist's estate <!--66193--> Albrecht DÜRER<br/> <em>St Sebastian at the tree</em> (1501) <!-- (recto) --><br /> engraving<br /> 11.5 x 7.1 cm (image and plate) 11.6 x 7.2 cm (sheet)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Felton Bequest, 1956<br /> 3468-4<br /> <!--43315--> WORCESTER ROYAL PORCELAIN CO., Worcester (manufacturer)<br/> <em>Aesthetic teapot</em> 1882 <!-- (back view) --><br /> porcelain<br /> (a-b) 15.4 x 17.5 x 8.5 cm (overall)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> The Dr Robert Wilson Collection. Presented through the NGV Foundation by Dr Robert Wilson, Honorary Life Benefactor, 2002<br /> 2002.397.a-b<br /> <!--67712--> Dianne Jones<br/> <em>Woman in black Dress</em> 2009 <!-- (recto) --><br /> inkjet print<br /> 84.0 x 60.0 cm (image) 103.9 x 79.6 cm (sheet)<br /> ed. 1/10<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased, Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists, 2021<br /> 2021.186<br /> © Dianne Jones/Licensed by Copyright Agency, Australia <!--145577--> William YANG<br/> <em>William in scholar's costume</em> 2008; 2014 {printed} <!-- (recto) --><br /> from the <i>Old new borrowed blue</i> series<br /> inkjet photograph<br /> 79.0 x 52.0 cm<br /> ed. 5/20<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased, Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists, 2014<br /> 2014.260<br /> © William Yang <!--112597--> Robert Fielding<br/> <em>In our hands</em> 2016 <!-- (recto) --><br /> inkjet print<br /> (a-i) 90.1 x 92.3 cm irreg. (overall)<br /> ed. 1/5<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased, Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists, 2018<br /> 2018.32.a-i<br /> © Robert Fielding/Copyright Agency, 2023 <!--131630--> Hannah Brontë<br/> <em>Umma’s Tongue – molten at 6000°</em> 2017 <!-- (video still) --><br /> HD video, sound<br /> 4 min 50 sec<br /> ed. 2/5<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased, Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists, 2019<br /> 2019.239<br /> © Hannah Brontë <!--137740--> Ponch HAWKES<br/> <em>No title (Two women embracing, 'Glad to be gay')</em> (1973); (2018) {printed} <!-- (recto) --><br /> gelatin silver photograph<br /> 20.2 x 30.3 cm (image) 28.0 x 38.0 cm (sheet)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased NGV Foundation, 2018<br /> 2018.1372<br /> © Ponch Hawkes, 2018 <!--137840--> Gilbert BAKER<br/> <em>Rainbow flag</em> 1978 {designed}; 2018 {manufactured} <!-- (recto) --><br /> nylon flag with poles<br /> 91.4 x 152.4 cm<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased NGV Foundation, 2018<br /> 2018.1351<br /> © The Gilbert Baker Estate <!--135958--> Andy WARHOL<br/> <em>The star</em> 1981 <!-- (recto) --><br /> from the <i>Myths</i> portfolio<br /> colour screenprint and diamond dust<br /> 96.8 x 96.5 cm (image and sheet)<br /> artist's proof 9/30<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Gift of William Peter Kerr and Inars Uldis Lacis, 2015<br /> 2015.427<br /> © The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc./ARS, New York. Licensed by Copyright Agency, Australia. <!--116892-->

Watch – Read – Listen

Amorous soldiers and Amazons: queer tales from antiquity
Sites of refuge, connection, creation, resistance and loss: the queer bar and nightclub in the twentieth century
Creating Queer Spaces | NGV and American Express Present: Queer Creatives
Session one: Queer People Archiving Their Histories QUEER X AQuA: Mining Queer Histories
Session two: The Legacy of David McDiarmid QUEER X AQuA: Mining Queer Histories
Session three: HIV/AIDS Activism, Then and Now QUEER X AQuA: Mining Queer Histories
Session four: Landmark LGBTQ+ Exhibitions in Australia QUEER X AQuA: Mining Queer Histories
Moving Backwards by Pauline Boudry and Renate Lorenz QUEER: Stories from the NGV Collection
QUEER: Stories from the NGV Collection Exhibition introduction
Queer: Stories from the NGV Collection with Courtney Act A five-part NGV podcast series

Publication

Exhibition catalogue

Queer: Stories from the NGV Collection is more than an exhibition catalogue. This 628- page publication expands on the themes explored in the NGV’s Queer exhibition to document the queer past, present and future of the NGV Collection.

More than 60 essays from authors with comprehensive knowledge of the historical and contemporary subjects encompassed by the NGV’s Queer project are presented alongside stunning reproductions of more than 200 works from the NGV Collection, either by queer artists or engaging with queer issues.

The essays in Queer: Stories from the NGV Collection explore the history of LGBTQ+ activism; the creation of queer spaces and communities; queerness as an artistic strategy; the expression of love, desire and sensuality; queer aesthetics; and the concepts of camp and the fantastic.

Authors: Annika Aitken, Dennis Altman, Mama Alto, Angela Bailey, Shaun Cole, Claire G. Coleman, Wayne Crothers (NGV), Myf Doughty (NGV), Tony Ellwood AM (NGV), Léuli Eshrāghi, Maggie Finch (NGV), Sophie Gerhard (NGV), Nayuka Gorrie, Ted Gott (NGV), Jack Halberstam, David Halperin, Lindsay C. Harris, Ari Larissa Heinrich, Angela Hesson (NGV), Shonae Hobson (NGV), Nic Holas, David Hurlston (NGV), M. Neelika Jayawardane, Petra Kayser (NGV), The Hon. Michael Kirby, Wayne Koestenbaum, Benjamin Law, Huw Lemmey, Sashi Nair, Rictor Norton, Hannah Presley, Katharina Prugger (NGV), Maura Reilly, Beckett Rozentals (NGV), Myles Russell-Cook (NGV), Meg Slater (NGV), Katie Somerville (NGV), Susan van Wyk (NGV), Pip Wallis (NGV), Danielle Whitfield (NGV), Ian Woolford.

Publisher: National Gallery of Victoria
Hardback, 270 x 205 mm (portrait), 628 pages
Editors: Ted Gott, Angela Hesson, Myles
Russell-Cook, Meg Slater, Pip Wallis
Fully illustrated in colour
ISBN: 978-1-925432-93-0
Category: Contemporary art and design
RRP: $99.95
Published: March 2022

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