APY video: National Gallery of Australia says nothing to see here

A National Gallery of Australia ­review has defended the actions of APY art assistants in a video uncovered in The Australian’s White Hands on Black Art investigation.

Stills taken from video where a non-Indigenous employee is seen contributing to a painting by artist Yaritji Young.

A National Gallery of Australia ­review has defended the actions of APY art assistants in a video uncovered in The Australian’s White Hands on Black Art investigation, in which a white staffer paints on the canvas of acclaimed Indigenous artist Yaritji Young.

“Could it do with another rockhole there, or is that going to be too circular?” the video reveals one staffer asking Tjala arts centre manager Rosie Palmer.

In another interaction on video, Ms Palmer says, “Can I juice this one up a little bit?” before painting large red circles on the canvas.

The independent review – commissioned by the NGA in ­response to the controversy – noted that “investigation of the video is outside the terms of the review”.

“We would merely say that particular care needs to be taken in properly assessing the video, not least noting that Mrs Young … is over 70 years old and suffers from physical disabilities,” it says.
“She has special needs in undertaking her artwork and we understand appreciates the assistance she receives.”

In a statement released by the APY Art Centre Collective in ­response to the review, Young said she had creative control of her ­projects.

“People have said that workers know my Tjukurpa (sacred ­stories) and paint on my canvas in the wrong way,” she said. “The workers are ngurpa (culturally naive). They don’t know my Tjukurrpa. They work for me. I am their boss. No one paints on my canvas the wrong way.”

Her husband, Frank Young, told one meeting, according to several sources, that his wife had had an accident and was “really tired”, and “that’s why that whitefella was painting on her painting”.

In response to the original report, the APYACC said Ms Palmer was performing “underpainting”.

“The photo in question shows the application of a background wash, which in Yaritji Young’s case is the last stage of this underpainting process,” a statement on the group’s Instagram page read. It is in no way interfering the artist’s Tjukurpa 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.”

When initially contacted for the original report, Ms Palmer told The Australian she did not work directly with Young.

When presented with a still from the video, she told The Australian she was merely holding a brush for Young, adding: “I absolutely deny that I am painting in this photo.”

The NGA review said it had “no issue with white studio workers priming canvases nor with assisting in generic processes such as putting down uniform background washes”.

“It is never appropriate for a person other than the artist (whether black or white) to interfere with the surface of another person’s painting in such a way as to add to or alter the image, without the artist’s express consent,” the review added.

The NGA review said it was not its role to review the operations of the APYACC or its dealings with artists generally.

However, the review noted that the APYACC’s “overriding purpose appears to be commercial”.

The controversy has attracted the attention of the federal and South Australian governments. A state investigation will examine claims of bullying, coercive control, and white staff painting substantial sections of Indigenous art at the studios.

The APYACC and its general manager, Skye O’Meara, have ­denied any wrongdoing.