One of the individuals behind the campaign to have the portraits of mining heiress Gina Rinehart taken down from Australia’s National Gallery of Art is professional swimmer Kyle Chalmers.
Rinehart has given over $40 million to support swimmers in the country through her company’s sponsorship program.
Some of the country’s most prominent athletes have joined the campaign to have the Rinehart portraits taken down from the gallery.
They believe that they are offensive and should be removed from the institution.
The works in question, which are by Vincent Namatjira, feature portraits of Rinehart alongside other prominent individuals such as Queen Elizabeth II and Australian celebrities.
Chalmers, who is a six-time Olympic medalist, has been campaigning for Rinehart since he was first informed about her concerns in April. He noted that the support he has received from the swimming community has been overwhelming.
Despite the negative portrayals of Rinehart in the works, Chalmers noted that she has been an amazing sponsor of Australian athletes. Some of the other swimmers who have supported Rinehart include Shayna Jack and Cate Campbell.
Kevin Hasemann, the chief executive of Swimming Queensland, helped organize a group of 20 of the organization’s athletes to join the campaign. In a letter to the NGA, he expressed his organization’s concerns about the portraits. He also urged the institution to reconsider its decision to feature them in its galleries.
Known for his work, which are often caricatures of various individuals, Vincent Namatjira has said that he paints the world as he sees it. He also claims that his paintings are not meant to be offensive. However, he hopes that people will take the time to examine his works and question why he has chosen to depict powerful people.
According to him, his intention is to depict powerful and wealthy individuals, whether they be directly or indirectly, who have affected this country in some form or the other. Although some people may find his portraits humorous, he hopes that others will see the serious side of them. The NGA has not moved his works, which include the watercolour, and will continue to display them until July 21.
This painting was displayed as part of an exhibition celebrating the work of Vincent Namatjira, which features 21 of his pieces. The NGA noted that since 1973, there has been a debate about the merits of certain works exhibited within the institution.
Through art, the NGA aims to inspire the public to explore and learn more about the world of art.