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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.

Bee Miles

'Eccentricity'

An exploration of Bee Miles' defining characteristic.

Bee Miles portrait story
Video: 2 minutes

The National Portrait Gallery would like to thank all the participants for their assistance with this project.

Video transcript

Female Speaker: Out of the usual, odd, a little bit wacky.

Male Speaker: Really peculiar. Something that’s not common.

Male Speaker: Bit twisted. Out of the ordinary.

Female Speaker: Maybe they like to wear eclectic clothing.

Male Speaker: A rich person’s version of crazy.

Female Speaker: A little left of the centre.

Male Speaker: A little odd. Different.

Female Speaker: It means like, old-fashioned.

Female Speaker: It’s big, it’s great. I think that’s it?

Female Speaker: No. That’s not what eccentric means (laughs).

Male Speaker: Someone who’s got, like, a strange character to them.

Interviewer: What does eccentric mean?

Male Speaker: Eccentric? Me.

Bee Miles

1 Bee Miles, 1976 Roderick Shaw. © Estate of Rod Shaw.

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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.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency