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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Gazira Babeli

Gazira Babeli

Gazira Babeli is a Second Life phenomenon. She has been living and working as an artist, performer and film-maker in Second Life since 2006 and her non-authorised performances and interruptions have captured the attention of art critics and artists alike. Her black top hat with its suggestive wobble, skin tight dress and dark glasses have become iconic in-world and are integrated like a virus into many of her performances that challenge the 'illusions' of Second Life whilst disrupting its very fabric. The artist behind the avatar has deliberately dissociated her real life identity from that of Gazira, preferring instead to let Gaz's actions speak for themselves.

Related information

Artists and guests at the doppelgnger exhibition launch on Portrait Island
Artists and guests at the doppelgnger exhibition launch on Portrait Island
Artists and guests at the doppelgnger exhibition launch on Portrait Island
Artists and guests at the doppelgnger exhibition launch on Portrait Island

Virtually human

Magazine article by Gillian Raymond, 2009

Gillian Raymond describes the National Portrait Gallery's second virtual exhibition doppelgänger.
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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