Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree

A defining feature of the Australian landscape, the gum tree breathes through our collective imagination, connecting us to this land and shaping our personal and cultural identities.

In Ngarn Wa'ngal: Art of the gum tree, we invite you to explore this iconic tree as a source of creative inspiration branching across centuries of artistic practice.

Translating as 'breathing for us' in Woi Wurrung, Ngarn Wa'ngal celebrates the deep cultural and ecological significance of the eucalypt. Over three floors, this expansive exhibition brings together colonial, twentieth century and contemporary works, sparking broader conversations about identity, sovereignty, climate and continuity.

Drawing from the University of Melbourne's collections alongside significant local and interstate loans, Ngarn Wa'ngal features over 160 works including commissions by Jane E. Brown, Dean Cross, megan evans, Janet Laurence and Jazz Money.

Curated by Alisa Bunbury, Senior Curator of the Grimwade Collection at the University of Melbourne, and Guest Curator Sophie Gerhard.

Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree publication

by Alisa Bunbury and Sophie Gerhard

Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree is a landmark publication dedicated to the eucalypt and the art it inspires. It traces the gum tree through art history and contemporary practice, engaging with Indigenous sovereignty, Australian identity, nationalism, climate change, land management and the tree’s global impact. Published in association with a major exhibition at the University of Melbourne's Potter Museum of Art.

Richly illustrated, the book features a range of contributors, from artists, Aboriginal Elders and art historians to ecologists, poets and writers who share their responses to this iconic Australian symbol, charting the gum tree’s ever-evolving significance in art, culture, the environment and wider society.

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Exhibition Rooms

Deep dive into the exhibition rooms of Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree.

Curating Ngarn Wa'ngal

Meet Alisa Bunbury and Sophie Gerhard, the curators behind Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree.

Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree commissions

New commissions exploring eucalyptus histories, ecology and First Nations perspectives through photography, installation and film.

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Supporters

This exhibition is made possible by The Russell and Mab Grimwade Miegunyah Fund, The Gordon Darling Foundation, Eucalypt Australia, Dulux Australia and Bosisto's.