Geoffrey Hassall doesn’t want any recognition for his championing of Australian Indigenous art.
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It’s why a Google search of his name brings up nothing but a few art gallery articles and a small news report about the Order of Australia Medal he received in 2014.
The Sydney collector has one of the most significant private collections of Indigenous art in the country, 22 years in the making.
It’s for these reasons Simone Nolan, director of the Wangaratta Art Gallery, is so excited about having some of the Hassall collection on display.
“He’s a big contributor to art centres in Northern and Western Australia; he’s often funded and helped start them,” she said.
“He’s passionate about making sure Indigenous artists are paid and represented correctly, and lends these works to places like the National Gallery of Victoria.
“Bathurst has shown interest in having something similar, but it’s not likely this group of work will be seen together in Victoria anytime soon, representing Geoffrey Hassell’s collection.”
The opening of the exhibition attracted more than 70 people, many keen to hear from NGV’s Senior Curator of Indigenous Art, Judith Ryan.
Contemporary art by Sally Gabori, Doris Bush and Tommy May are among those featured, and a piece by the artist known as Nonggirrnga Marawili was among Ms Nolan’s favourites.
“The line-work and limited palette she used really stood out for me,” she said.
“Judith is a big fan of Geoff and that’s why we were able to get her to come to the gallery – she talked very personally about these artists.”
Walking into the gallery, you wouldn’t straight away identify the works as belonging to Indigenous artists, Ms Nolan said.
“It’s amazing contemporary art in its own right whether it’s Indigenous or not – it’s about acknowledging great contemporary Australian artwork within its own means,” she said.
“They’re telling stories form their country and it’s one of the most exciting areas of Australian art at the moment.”
This weekend is the last opportunity to view the Hassell Collection at the Wangaratta Art Gallery.