That portrait Gina Rinehart so desperately wanted forgotten by the Australian public is back in the news cycle. Bet you just remembered the one I’m talking about, right? In other words, it’s not going anywhere.
Fresh reports this morning reveal the 70-year-old mining mogul and billionaire requested the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) to “permanently dispose” of two of Indigenous artist Vincent Namatjira’s portraits.
As reported by The Sydney Morning Herald, documents were released under freedom-of-information (FOI) laws last night uncovering dozens of emails between Rinehart, her supporters and the heads of the National Gallery.
Earlier this year, Indigenous artist and 2020 Archibald prize winner Vincent Namatjira’s exhibition Vincent Namatjira: Australia in colour made headlines across the country – and ultimately around the world – for his depictions of high-profile Australians, including former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, AFL legend Adam Goodes, and Gina Rinehart, Australia’s wealthiest person.
According to the documents released under FOI, Rinehart contacted NGA chair Ryan Stokes via email in April, writing: “pl (sic) permanently dispose of the 2 so called portraits of me”.
She was not the only one unhappy with Namatjira’s artistic interpretation of the billionaire: the documents found more than 26 emails from Rinehart’s supporters were sent to the NGA heads, demanding for the portrait to be removed.
Some wrote Rinehart is “one of Australia’s most prestigious people” and “our most powerful and successful woman”, and it was “disrespectful” and “extremely upsetting” to see her portrayed in this way.
According to the report from The Sydney Morning Herald, NGA chair Ryan Stokes forwarded Rinehart’s “interesting” complaint on to NGA’s director Nick Mitzevich, writing he wasn’t sure “entirely how we respond” and they would “need to think about it”.
Ultimately, her request to have the portraits removed was denied, and in fact, the portrait gained international media attention and high visitor numbers at the National Gallery of Australia.
In a statement released in May, the gallery said it welcomed public dialogue on its collection and displays.
“Since 1973, when the National Gallery acquired Jackson Pollock’s Blue Poles, there has been a dynamic discussion on the artistic merits of works in the national collection, and/or on display at the gallery,” the statement read.
“We present works of art to the Australian public to inspire people to explore, experience and learn about art.”
Namatjira’s exhibition closed in July this year.
Gina Rinehart is not just the richest woman in Australia – she’s the richest person. According to The Australian Financial Review’s Rich Women List released in March this year, Rinehart is worth $37.6 billion.