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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.

Beyond the Self

Contemporary Portraiture from Asia

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

More information on Beyond the Self

Selected images

4 images
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Man of the year #4, 2011 by Agus Suwage
Man of the year #4, 2011 by Agus Suwage
Landlocked, 2008 by Nadiah Bamadhaj
Landlocked, 2008 by Nadiah Bamadhaj
Gravity, 2009 by Alwar Balasubramaniam
Gravity, 2009 by Alwar Balasubramaniam
Open your mouth, 2002 by FX Harsono
Open your mouth, 2002 by FX Harsono
4 images
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Related information

Asuceleng (Dog-boar), 2010
Asuceleng (Dog-boar), 2010
Asuceleng (Dog-boar), 2010
Asuceleng (Dog-boar), 2010

Man of the year

Magazine article by Christine Clark, 2011

Exhibition curator Christine Clark introduces the work by Indonesian artist Agus Suwage created for Beyond the self: Contemporary portraiture from Asia.
Marilyn Ball, Albatross, 2018 (detail) by Linde Ivimey
Marilyn Ball, Albatross, 2018 (detail) by Linde Ivimey
Marilyn Ball, Albatross, 2018 (detail) by Linde Ivimey
Marilyn Ball, Albatross, 2018 (detail) by Linde Ivimey

So Fine

Contemporary women artists make Australian history

Previous exhibition, 2018

This exhibition features new works from ten women artists reinterpreting and reimagining elements of Australian history, enriching the contemporary narrative around Australia’s history and biography, reflecting the tradition of storytelling in our country.
Self portrait, 1957 by Sunarto P. R.
Self portrait, 1957 by Sunarto P. R.
Self portrait, 1957 by Sunarto P. R.
Self portrait, 1957 by Sunarto P. R.

Masters of modern Indonesian portraiture

Previous exhibition, 2014

Masters of modern Indonesian portraiture presents key modernist paintings and drawings along with a selection of contemporary works.
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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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