The Neighbour at the Gate
The Neighbour at the Gate is a landmark exhibition exploring the connections between First Nations and Asian Australian histories through contemporary art. Led by senior curator Clothilde Bullen OAM, with curators Micheal Do and Zali Morgan, the exhibition responds to past and ongoing immigration policies and their lasting effects on identity, sovereignty, and belonging. New works by Jacky Cheng, Elham Eshraghian-Haakansson, Dennis Golding, Jenna Mayilema Lee, James Nguyen and James Tylor transform NAS Galleries into a space for cultural reflection and renewal. The artists challenge exclusionary stories and highlight shared experiences of displacement, resilience, and kinship. They dismantle myths of national identity and border construction to shed light on complex histories often pushed to the fringes. Both poetic and political, The Neighbour at the Gate demonstrates how art can act as a gateway for healing, connection, and truth- telling amid contested notions of belonging. It is on show until October 18, 2025.
Image credit: Installation view JENNA MAYILEMA LEE, Portal to the Bangarr (billabong), 2025, The Neighbour at the Gate, National Art School Gallery, Gadigal Country/Sydney, 2025. Photo: Peter Morgan. Courtesy the artist and the National Art School © the artist
