The National Art School brings its new exhibition, The Neighbour at the Gate, to the New England Regional Art Museum (NERAM) this week. With an opening night celebration set on 28 May, the exhibition will be on display at NERAM until 26 July 2026.
Led by Wardandi (Noongar) and Badimaya (Yamatji) woman and senior curator Clothilde Bullen OAM, with Micheal Do, and Whadjuk Balladong and Wilman (Noongar) woman Zali Morgan, this exhibition reckons with the echoes of immigration policies and the legacies of colonialism in Australia, showing how these forces continue to shape First Nations and Asian Australian experiences and relationships.
Bringing together newly commissioned works by leading contemporary artists Jacky Cheng, Elham Eshraghian-Haakansson, Dennis Golding, Jenna Mayilema Lee, James Nguyen, and James Tylor, The Neighbour at the Gate charts the entangled legacies of exclusion and resilience, drawing vital parallels between the past and present, memory and nationhood.
To celebrate the exhibition, NERAM is hosting a free opening night on Friday 29 May 2026 from 6pm, which will include a smoking ceremony from Bruce Cohen, followed by an introduction from NERAM Director, Rachael Parsons.
“This exhibition seeks to centre connection between First Nations and Asian Australian cultural groups and raise the level of awareness of those connections, which have existed outside dominant or mainstream culture for as long as humans have come and gone to this continent,” said curator Clothilde Bullen.
“By gathering the artists and curators together to tell their stories, we consider the importance of who gets to tell these stories, the archive from which they are drawn, and how they shape perceptions and identities. It is urgent and timely that we offer audiences the opportunity to think deeply about how we frame our national identity, presenting new dialogues about what it means to be an Australian and who we are as a country today.”
The Neighbour at the Gate is a commissioned exhibition project for the National Art School, proudly supported by the NSW Government through the Blockbusters Funding initiative. The exhibition is accompanied by a comprehensive publication, learning and education framework.
“This is an important project for the National Art School at a critical time in our nation’s history. We are pleased to be able to lead the cultural conversation with truth telling at the core of this special project.” National Art School Project Co-leads Katrina Cashman and John Waight said.
“The National Art School is a champion of art education and social engagement, and this exhibition is significant in sharing with the public underrepresented histories and experiences. These exciting artworks provide a platform for critical conversations that challenge audiences to expand our perspectives on issues of racial and cultural identity and the complexities of belonging.”
The neighbour at the gate opens at NERAM on 29 May from 6pm and will be on display until 26 July 2026.
For more information visit https://www.neram.com.au/event/the-neighbour-at-the-gate/.
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