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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.

In the flesh

In the flesh is an enthralling and immersive experience of contemporary art that confronts the concept of humanness and the experiences of consciousness and emotion. Featuring ten Australian artists including Jan Nelson, Patricia Piccinini, Ron Mueck and Michael Peck, the exhibition explores themes of intimacy, empathy, transience, transition, vulnerability, alienation, restlessness, reflection, mortality and acceptance.

More information on In the flesh

Selected images

38 images
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Divide, 2011 by Sam Jinks
Divide, 2011 by Sam Jinks
Walking in tall grass, Lucy, 2010 by Jan Nelson
Walking in tall grass, Lucy, 2010 by Jan Nelson
The Long Awaited, 2008 by Patricia Piccinini
The Long Awaited, 2008 by Patricia Piccinini
Woman and child, 2010 by Sam Jinks
Woman and child, 2010 by Sam Jinks
Peony, 2014 by Natasha Bieniek
Peony, 2014 by Natasha Bieniek
Peony, 2014 by Natasha Bieniek
In the flesh behind the scenes. Video length: 2 minutes
Omega, 2013 by Robin Eley
Omega, 2013 by Robin Eley
Look Closer, 2013 by Yanni Floros
Look Closer, 2013 by Yanni Floros
Unsettled dogs, 2012 by Sam Jinks
Unsettled dogs, 2012 by Sam Jinks
Wild Man, 2005 by Ron Mueck
Wild Man, 2005 by Ron Mueck
Small Things, 2012 by Sam Jinks
Small Things, 2012 by Sam Jinks
Untitled, 2012 by Sam Jinks
Untitled, 2012 by Sam Jinks
Hanging Man, 2005 by Sam Jinks
Hanging Man, 2005 by Sam Jinks
Still Life (Pieta), 2007 by Sam Jinks
Still Life (Pieta), 2007 by Sam Jinks
Adams Apple, 2013 by Petrina Hicks
Adams Apple, 2013 by Petrina Hicks
Walking in Tall Grass, Betty, 2010 by Jan Nelson
Walking in Tall Grass, Betty, 2010 by Jan Nelson
Walking in Tall Grass, Lauren, 2007 by Jan Nelson
Walking in Tall Grass, Lauren, 2007 by Jan Nelson
Walking in Tall Grass, Marion 2, 2011 by Jan Nelson
Walking in Tall Grass, Marion 2, 2011 by Jan Nelson
Walking in tall grass, Viktor, 2005 by Jan Nelson
Walking in tall grass, Viktor, 2005 by Jan Nelson
Rose, 2011 by Natasha Bieniek
Rose, 2011 by Natasha Bieniek
Strange Days, 2013 by Jan Nelson
Strange Days, 2013 by Jan Nelson
Indigo, 2012 by Natasha Bieniek
Indigo, 2012 by Natasha Bieniek
Magenta, 2012 by Natasha Bieniek
Magenta, 2012 by Natasha Bieniek
Sienna, 2011 by Natasha Bieniek
Sienna, 2011 by Natasha Bieniek
Untitled, 2013 by Natasha Bieniek
Untitled, 2013 by Natasha Bieniek
Alley, 11.15 am (from 'The Fitzroy Series'), 2011 by Patricia Piccinini
Alley, 11.15 am (from 'The Fitzroy Series'), 2011 by Patricia Piccinini
Bedroom, 10.30 pm (from 'The Fitzroy Series'), 2011 by Patricia Piccinini
Bedroom, 10.30 pm (from 'The Fitzroy Series'), 2011 by Patricia Piccinini
Last day of the holidays (from 'The SO2 series’), 2000 by Patricia Piccinini
Last day of the holidays (from 'The SO2 series’), 2000 by Patricia Piccinini
Social Studies (from ‘The SO2 series’), 2000 by Patricia Piccinini
Social Studies (from ‘The SO2 series’), 2000 by Patricia Piccinini
Workshop, 7.00 pm (from 'The Fitzroy Series'), 2011 by Patricia Piccinini
Workshop, 7.00 pm (from 'The Fitzroy Series'), 2011 by Patricia Piccinini
Husk # 5, 2006 by Juan Ford
Husk # 5, 2006 by Juan Ford
The Reorientalist, 2013 by Juan Ford
The Reorientalist, 2013 by Juan Ford
Black Swan, 2013 by Yanni Floros
Black Swan, 2013 by Yanni Floros
High Horse, 2014 by Yanni Floros
High Horse, 2014 by Yanni Floros
Recruit # 6, 2012 by Michael Peck
Recruit # 6, 2012 by Michael Peck
Recruit (Self Portrait in the image of my son), 2012 by Michael Peck
Recruit (Self Portrait in the image of my son), 2012 by Michael Peck
Devotion, 2013 by Robin Eley
Devotion, 2013 by Robin Eley
Graven, 2013 by Robin Eley
Graven, 2013
by Robin Eley
38 images
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Related information

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Miles and Arkie, 2015 by Clint Peloso
Miles and Arkie, 2015 by Clint Peloso
Miles and Arkie, 2015 by Clint Peloso
Miles and Arkie, 2015 by Clint Peloso

Shop Talk

Magazine article by Stephen Phillips, 2016

Angus and the arbiters talk (photo) shop for the National Photographic Portrait Prize.
The Long Awaited, 2008 by Patricia Piccinini
The Long Awaited, 2008 by Patricia Piccinini
The Long Awaited, 2008 by Patricia Piccinini
The Long Awaited, 2008 by Patricia Piccinini

In the flesh

Magazine article by Penelope Grist, 2015

An exhibition of humanness in ten themes by Penelope Grist.
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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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