The Neighbour at the Gate
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The Neighbour at the Gate
Saturday October 18
2025
10am – 4pm
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Curated by a guest curatorium led by Clothilde Bullen OAM (Wardandi Noongar and Badimaya Yamatji), with Micheal Do and Zali Morgan (Whadjuk Balladong and Wilman Noongar).
Bringing together newly commissioned works by leading Australian artists Jacky Cheng, Elham Eshraghian-Haakansson, Dennis Golding (Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay), Jenna Mayilema Lee (Gulumerridjin (Larrakia), Wardaman, KarraJarri), James Nguyen and James Tylor (Kaurna, Thura-Yura language region), the exhibition reckons with the echoes of immigration policies and the legacies of colonialism in Australia, unravelling how these forces continue to shape First Nations and Asian Australian experiences and relationships.
Across various mediums and perspectives, The Neighbour at the Gate charts the entangled legacies of exclusion and resilience, drawing vital parallels between the past and present, memory and nationhood.
The Neighbour at the Gate is a commissioned exhibition project for the National Art School, proudly supported by the NSW Government through the Blockbusters Funding initiative. The exhibition will be accompanied by a publication, learning and education framework and public programs.
Curated by a guest curatorium led by Clothilde Bullen OAM (Wardandi Noongar and Badimaya Yamatji), with Micheal Do and Zali Morgan
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Clothilde Bullen OAM
Wardandi and Badimaya curator, writer and advocate Clothilde Bullen OAM broke new ground as the inaugural Lead, Cultural Strategy and Development for Edith Cowan University, Boorloo (Perth) and has since transitioned into the role of Manager Art, Culture and Collections after completing a new Cultural Narrative framework and strategy for the university. Bullen previously worked with the Art Gallery of Western Australia where she has served on their executive team as the Senior Curator and Head of Indigenous Programs, after 5 years at Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art Australia as their inaugural Senior Curator First Nations art. She is currently Co‐Chair of Indigenous Voices, a critical writing mentoring program for First Nations writers as well as a board member of the UNESCO International Association of Art Critics (Australian chapter) and Chair of the Board of the National Association for the Visual Arts.
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Micheal Do
Micheal Do is a curator, writer, programr and broadcaster. In his current role as Senior Curator, Contemporary Art of the Sydney Opera House, Do has commissioned site specific installations and performance works by artists Megan Cope, Cherine Fahd, Lauren Brincat, Angela Goh, James Nguyen, Victoria Pham, Mel O’ Callaghan and Frances Barrett. His recent curatorial projects include Primavera 2022: Young Australian Artists at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Soft Core national touring exhibition from 2016 – 19, Not Niwe, Not Nieuw, Not Neu (2017), Lee Kun Yong: Equal Area (2018, co-curated with Mikala Tai) and The Invisible Hand (2019) for 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, and 5X5: The Artist and The Patron (2018) for Penrith Regional Gallery & The Lewers Bequest. Do has written for artist and exhibition catalogues, art magazines including Art Collector Australia, Art Monthly Australasia, Art Review Asia, and Artist Profile Magazine, and recently hosted a season of The Art Show on ABC Radio National.
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Zali Morgan
Zali Morgan is a Noongar woman with ancestral connections to Whadjuk, Balladong, and Wilman Boodjar. She was born and raised near Wooditchup on Wardandi Boodjar and is now based near Boorloo / Perth. As an artist, curator, and cultural worker, Morgan has a deep passion for working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, particularly uplifting Noongar artistic practices. With a keen interest in modes of decolonising, she has worked closely with private and institutional collections, including the Art Gallery of Western Australia, Wesfarmers Arts, and the Berndt Museum of Anthropology.
Artist Dennis Golding invited exhibition co-curator Micheal Do and NAS curator, exhibitions, Lucy Latella for an intimate look at his work Bingo (2025), commissioned for The neighbour at the gate and produced with the National Art School printmaking department.
Photo Essay
Dennis Golding, Bingo
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Soundscape
James Tylor, Pardu
Listen
Artist talks archive
Take 5!
Due to their popularity, the Take 5! series is back at NAS Gallery. Take 5! is a series of collaborative lunchtime talks with the NAS curatorial staff and lecturers from our Art History and Theory and various studio disciplines every fortnight on Thursday lunchtime.
Upcoming EventsArt Forum
The NAS Art Forum is a weekly public lecture intended to enrich the school community with contributions by guest speakers on a broad range of subjects considered to be of interest to NAS staff, students and the public. Previous speakers have included notable art industry professionals on subjects covering visual arts, cultural theory and humanities.
NAS Forum lectures are held Wednesday lunchtime from 12.45 – 1.30pm during teaching weeks.
Upcoming EventsChildren’s Trail from the Booby and Eel
Pick up a Children’s Trail from the Booby and Eel Children’s Corner in the NAS Gallery and come on a journey with Booby and Eel through this exhibition filled with artworks with powerful stories and ideas. At each stop, you’ll see artworks by a new artist and try a fun activity inspired by their art.
Follow the trail, read the clues, and get hands-on with art!
Learn MoreOpening Weekend
We are so thrilled with the public response to The Neighbour at the Gate exhibition which is off to a flying start with over 2,500 people attending its opening week programs.
With over 20 events held across 5 days, we were very pleased to welcome and host the artists, curators, and their families from as far afield as Yaruwu Country in Broome, Boorloo Country in Perth, Larrakia Country in Darwin, Naarm Country in Melbourne and Gadigal Country in Sydney to NAS, as well as special guests who travelled internationally to attend our major events.
The exhibition and our program of events has attracted wide ranging visitors including elders and special community members, arts and culture professionals, children and families as well as the wider NAS alumni and student and staff community.
Full Program of Events