Join Marri Ngarr artist Ryan Presley in conversation to celebrate the launch of the artist’s site-specific commission Paradise won. Prominently positioned at the Gallery’s entrance, this ambitious new work invites conversations about the ongoing legacies of colonisation and celebrates First Nations survival and autonomy.
Hear all about Presley's practice and learn about the artwork's themes. The talk in the Liangis Theatre will conclude with a 10-minute Q&A.
Paradise won will be on display in the Gallery’s Tim Fairfax Forecourt until May 2025.
Dr Ryan Presley was born in 1987 in Mparntwe/Alice Springs, and lives and works in Meanjin/Brisbane. His father’s family is Marri Ngarr and originate from the Moyle River region in the Northern Territory. His mother’s family were Scandinavian immigrants to Australia. Presley’s practice wrestles with themes of power and dominion – in particular, how religion and economic control served colonialism and empire building over time, and the representation of its customs and edifices in our everyday lives. Presley has exhibited widely in Australia and overseas and his work is held in major public collections including the Museum of Contemporary Art, National Gallery of Victoria, Art Gallery of South Australia, and the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art.
