Gina Rinehart, Australia's top billionaire, has urged the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) in Canberra to remove her portrait by renowned Aboriginal artist Vincent Namatjira from public display.
According to a report from bbcThe portrait of Rinehart, 70, is among 21 colorful paintings by Namatjira, 40, that will be displayed in his “Vincent Namatjira: Australia in Color” exhibition in July.
Namatjira is famous for her cartoonish style that challenges power structures.
Rinehart, owner of Australia's Hancock Prospecting, is known for being one of the largest private investors in Australian sport and a prolific philanthropist.
However, she is also known for public legal battles with her family and for her outspoken comments on everything from climate change to laws protecting indigenous heritage.
Along with Rinehart, champion swimmer Kyle Chalmers, whose portrait is also among the 21 paintings, and Swimming Queensland boss Kevin Hasemann also petitioned the gallery to remove the portraits.
They claim that the portraits on display since March are offensive and mean-spirited.
“I've seen the artwork there and I wouldn't want to be represented that way,” Hasemann said.
However, Namatjira's response to the criticism was simple: “I paint the world as I see it.”
Namatjira, who became the first Indigenous person to win Australia's largest portrait competition, the Archibald Prize, in 2020, says his work is designed to make audiences think about influence and privilege.
“Some people may not like it, others may find it funny, but I hope people look beneath the surface and see the serious side too.”
