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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.

Artist essays

Beyond the self

A series of essays on each of the artists participating in the exhibition.

Gravity, 2009 by Alwar Balasubramaniam
Gravity, 2009 by Alwar Balasubramaniam
Gravity, 2009 by Alwar Balasubramaniam
Gravity, 2009 by Alwar Balasubramaniam

Alwar Balasubramaniam

by Zehra Jumabhoy

Born in 1971 in Tamil Nadu, Southern India, Alwar Balasubramaniam's sculptures, prints and installations challenge our perceptions while creating forms for the invisible and the intangible.
Landlocked, 2008 by Nadiah Bamadhaj
Landlocked, 2008 by Nadiah Bamadhaj
Landlocked, 2008 by Nadiah Bamadhaj
Landlocked, 2008 by Nadiah Bamadhaj

Nadiah Bamadhaj

by Beverly Yong

Born in Malaysia in 1968, to a Malaysian Muslim father and a New Zealander mother of Scottish descent Nadiah Bamadhaj studied Fine Arts in New Zealand, and is currently working on a PhD from Curtin University, Western Australia.
I was not waving but drowning II, 2005 by Atul Bhalla
I was not waving but drowning II, 2005 by Atul Bhalla
I was not waving but drowning II, 2005 by Atul Bhalla
I was not waving but drowning II, 2005 by Atul Bhalla

Atul Bhalla

by Khavita Singh

Atul Bhalla was born in 1964 in New Delhi. He frequently combines photography, installation, sculpture, video, painting and performance to question the human relationship with the natural and constructed environment.
Yog Raj Chitrakar: Memory Drawing V (Part II), 2010 Yog Raj Chitrakar: Memory drawing series by Nikhil Chopra
Yog Raj Chitrakar: Memory Drawing V (Part II), 2010 Yog Raj Chitrakar: Memory drawing series by Nikhil Chopra
Yog Raj Chitrakar: Memory Drawing V (Part II), 2010 Yog Raj Chitrakar: Memory drawing series by Nikhil Chopra
Yog Raj Chitrakar: Memory Drawing V (Part II), 2010 Yog Raj Chitrakar: Memory drawing series by Nikhil Chopra

Nikhil Chopra

by Rattanamol Johal

Nikhil Chopra was born in 1974, in Calcutta. His first degree was in commerce, but in 1997 he took up fine art studies, eventually gaining a Masters in Fine Art from Ohio State University, United States.
Refound line, 2011 by S Teddy D
Refound line, 2011 by S Teddy D
Refound line, 2011 by S Teddy D
Refound line, 2011 by S Teddy D

S Teddy D

by Elly Kent

S Teddy D was born in Padang, Sumatra in 1970, and studied painting at the Institut Seni Indonesia (Indonesian Institute of Art) in Yogyakarta.
Alab ng puso (Fire in the heart), 2010 by Alfredo Esquillo Jr
Alab ng puso (Fire in the heart), 2010 by Alfredo Esquillo Jr
Alab ng puso (Fire in the heart), 2010 by Alfredo Esquillo Jr
Alab ng puso (Fire in the heart), 2010 by Alfredo Esquillo Jr

Alfredo Esquillo Jr

by Patrick D. Flores

Born in Manila in 1972, Alfredo Esquillo Jr majored in painting at University of Santo Thomas.
Open your mouth, 2002 by FX Harsono
Open your mouth, 2002 by FX Harsono
Open your mouth, 2002 by FX Harsono
Open your mouth, 2002 by FX Harsono

FX Harsono

by Christine Clark

FX Harsono was born in 1949, just as the independence of the Indonesian nation was being established.
Untitled, 2010 by Jose Legaspi
Untitled, 2010 by Jose Legaspi
Untitled, 2010 by Jose Legaspi
Untitled, 2010 by Jose Legaspi

Jose Legaspi

by Patrick D. Flores

Jose Legaspi was born in 1959 in Manila. He achieved degrees in zoology and biology before turning to fine arts in the mid-1980s.
Potret diri di depan kelambu terbuka (Self portrait before the open mosquito net), 2009 by Herra Pahlasari
Potret diri di depan kelambu terbuka (Self portrait before the open mosquito net), 2009 by Herra Pahlasari
Potret diri di depan kelambu terbuka (Self portrait before the open mosquito net), 2009 by Herra Pahlasari
Potret diri di depan kelambu terbuka (Self portrait before the open mosquito net), 2009 by Herra Pahlasari

Herra Pahlasari

by Aminudin TH Siregar

At the time of Herra Pahlasari’s birth in 1978, her academic parents were living in Canberra.
Abduction/The Forest, 2009 © Pushpamala N.
Abduction/The Forest, 2009 © Pushpamala N.
Abduction/The Forest, 2009 © Pushpamala N.
Abduction/The Forest, 2009 © Pushpamala N.

Pushpamala N

by Ajay Sinha

Pushpamala N. was born in 1956 in Bangalore. Her early training was in sculpture, but as her practice progressed she brought an early enthusiasm for narrative figuration into her photographic work.
Keep the balance, 2010 by Eko Nugroho
Keep the balance, 2010 by Eko Nugroho
Keep the balance, 2010 by Eko Nugroho
Keep the balance, 2010 by Eko Nugroho

Eko Nugroho

by Adeline Ooi

Born and raised in Yogyakarta, Eko Nugroho (b. 1977) entered the art scene at the height of Reformasi.
Did you come here to find history?, 2009 Edition 3/3 by Nusra Latif Qureshi
Did you come here to find history?, 2009 Edition 3/3 by Nusra Latif Qureshi
Did you come here to find history?, 2009 Edition 3/3 by Nusra Latif Qureshi
Did you come here to find history?, 2009 Edition 3/3 by Nusra Latif Qureshi

Nusra Latif Qureshi

by Hammad Nasar

Nusra Latif Qureshi was born in Pakistan in 1973 and originally trained in the traditional art of Mughal miniature (musaviri) paintings.
Navins of Bollywood, 2006 by Navin Rawanchaikul
Navins of Bollywood, 2006 by Navin Rawanchaikul
Navins of Bollywood, 2006 by Navin Rawanchaikul
Navins of Bollywood, 2006 by Navin Rawanchaikul

Navin Rawanchaikul

by Christine Clark

Navin Rawanchaikul has built his practice around explorations of the transient nature of identity in a globalised world, and draws much of his material from his own experiences.
Ang Retabla Rizalista (Relikaryo ni Arnulfo Tikb-ang) 2011 The Rizalian Retablo (Reliquary by Arnulfo Tikb-ang) by Alwin Reamillo
Ang Retabla Rizalista (Relikaryo ni Arnulfo Tikb-ang) 2011 The Rizalian Retablo (Reliquary by Arnulfo Tikb-ang) by Alwin Reamillo
Ang Retabla Rizalista (Relikaryo ni Arnulfo Tikb-ang) 2011 The Rizalian Retablo (Reliquary by Arnulfo Tikb-ang) by Alwin Reamillo
Ang Retabla Rizalista (Relikaryo ni Arnulfo Tikb-ang) 2011 The Rizalian Retablo (Reliquary by Arnulfo Tikb-ang) by Alwin Reamillo

Alwin Reamillo

by Christine Clark

Alwin Reamillo was born in Manila, Philippines in 1964. He studied painting at the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts, and began his career as a visual art teacher at the Philippine High School for the Arts.
Trans-, 2004-05 by Tejal Shah
Trans-, 2004-05 by Tejal Shah
Trans-, 2004-05 by Tejal Shah
Trans-, 2004-05 by Tejal Shah

Tejal Shah

by Gitanjali Dang

Born in 1979, Tejal Shah grew up in Chhattisgarh, central India, moving to Bombay in 1995.
Bourgeois family: Mirror frieze, 2001 From the series Re-take of Amrita by Vivan Sundaram
Bourgeois family: Mirror frieze, 2001 From the series Re-take of Amrita by Vivan Sundaram
Bourgeois family: Mirror frieze, 2001 From the series Re-take of Amrita by Vivan Sundaram
Bourgeois family: Mirror frieze, 2001 From the series Re-take of Amrita by Vivan Sundaram

Vivan Sundaram

by Rakhee Balaram

Born in 1943 in Simla, Vivan Sundaram’s long career has given him opportunities to work in a range of mediums – painting, installation, assemblage, photography, digital media and film.
Pass to converse, 2003 by Melati Suryodarmo
Pass to converse, 2003 by Melati Suryodarmo
Pass to converse, 2003 by Melati Suryodarmo
Pass to converse, 2003 by Melati Suryodarmo

Melati Suryodarmo

by Hendro Wiyanto

Born in Surakarta (Solo), Indonesia in 1969, Melati Suryodarmo’s first degree was in international relations.
Man of the year #4, 2011 by Agus Suwage
Man of the year #4, 2011 by Agus Suwage
Man of the year #4, 2011 by Agus Suwage
Man of the year #4, 2011 by Agus Suwage

Agus Suwage

by Enin Supriyanto

Born in 1959, Agus Suwage was educated in the creative hub of Central Java, Yogyakarta before moving west to study graphic design at the Bandung Institute of Technology.
Ladki number 1, 2001 by Hema Upadhyay
Ladki number 1, 2001 by Hema Upadhyay
Ladki number 1, 2001 by Hema Upadhyay
Ladki number 1, 2001 by Hema Upadhyay

Hema Upadhyay

by Amrita Gupta Singh

Hema Upadhyay was born in Baroda in 1972 and moved to in Mumbai in 1998. Incorporating painting, installation, sculpture and printmaking, Upadhyay’s work often addresses issues related to migration, especially the experiences of those living in urban communities.

Related information

Man of the year #4, 2011 by Agus Suwage
Man of the year #4, 2011 by Agus Suwage
Man of the year #4, 2011 by Agus Suwage
Man of the year #4, 2011 by Agus Suwage

Beyond the Self

Contemporary Portraiture from Asia

Previous exhibition, 2011

This exhibition examines the representation of the self in current South and Southeast Asian art practice through the work of artists from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines and Thailand
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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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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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