Photo Essay | Dennis Golding, Bingo | The Neighbour at the Gate
Bingo (2025) is a ten-metre-long wall installation by Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay artist Dennis Golding that draws from his recollections of family bingo nights hosted by his nan and aunty on Eveleigh Street in Redfern, Sydney. Gathering in an abandoned terrace house, they stitched together joy from what little they had; cutting game cards from cardboard, running power through borrowed cords, and making space for community.
The brick-like etchings and copper plates resemble the terracotta terraces of Redfern – a vital site of Aboriginal community and resistance, where Dennis was raised.
Each card tells a family story: cats curled on sun-warmed steps, the long coil of a corded phone, letters opened slowly, a cup of tea cooling by the sink, the quiet rattle of fishing gear. Earthy tones recall the walls of Dennis’ childhood and the ochres of Aboriginal art, while blue and red ink –reminiscent of biro – echoes the everyday. Some surfaces bear the dust of soil pressed gently into the paper, a residue of place.
Bingo offers no easy nostalgia. It speaks of strength formed in closeness, of laughter shared across tables, of walls that held community, not confinement. It is a tender monument to survival, made from the small, enduring things that hold us.
‘It wasn’t about winning, but the feeling of freedom and connection.’
– Dennis Golding
Bingo was commissioned by the National Art School Gallery for the major exhibition The Neighbour at the Gate (11 July – 18 October 2025) with proud support by the NSW Government through the Blockbusters Funding initiative. It was produced at the National Art School with the assistance of master printer and artist Janet Parker-Smith; Carolyn Mckenzie-Craig, NAS Head of Printmaking; and Rebecca O’Shea, NAS Printmaking Studio Technician.
Photography by Peter Morgan.
Got a young artist at home?
Art Club Term 3 is now open for enrolment — and we’ve got an exciting painting program lined up. This term, kids will explore styles like Expressive Acrylics and Contemporary Watercolour, all while building their confidence and creativity.
Monday afternoons, led by artist and educator Grant Bellamy.
Visit the link in bio to learn more and enrol.
Jul 17
Thank you to everyone who attended the opening night and weekend celebrations for The Neighbour at the Gate.
The Neighbour at the Gate is now open until Saturday 18 October 2025
11am – 5pm Monday to Saturday
NAS Gallery
Free admission, all welcome
Plan your visit at the link in bio.
Jul 15
Announcing Nakari Thorpe as the chair for the Artists and Curators Panel Talk for The Neighbour at the Gate this Saturday 12 July.
Nakari Thorpe is a Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Gooreng Gooreng woman from Victoria and Queensland. She is a presenter and Indigenous Communities reporter with ABC News based in Sydney providing coverage across television, radio and digital. She previously worked as a multi-platform reporter with SBS and NITV covering federal politics in the Canberra Press Gallery at Parliament House and national Indigenous affairs.
Join us for the talk in our historic Cell Block Theatre, 12pm – 1pm on Saturday 12 July, as part of our opening weekend celebrations. Secure your spot and view the full program at the link in bio.
Jul 9
Led by art educators and inspired by James Nguyen’s new installation work `Homeopathies_where trees grow` (2025), join us for a free drop-in artmaking workshop to make your own incense holder out of clay which will become part of the evolving artwork in the NAS Gallery, commissioned for The Neighbour at the Gate.
Next Saturday, 12 July, between 11am – 3pm.
Visit our website to view the full program (link in bio).
The Neighbour at the Gate has been made possible with the generous support of the NSW Government through its Blockbusters Funding initiative.
Jul 8
Next Saturday, join us for a fun-filled day of family friendly, free creative activities. There will be sound baths, drop-in artmaking, children`s activities, an artists and curators panel talk, followed by dj sets and food trucks. Stick around for after-hours access to the gallery and the Shared Skies Music Concert with BARKAA, Rainbow Chan and DJ Rocky Stallone (ticketed, 18+).
Visit our website to view the full program (link in bio).
The Neighbour at the Gate has been made possible with the generous support of the NSW Government through its Blockbusters Funding initiative.
Jul 5
Just over a week to go until the `Shared Skies` music concert featuring BARKAA, "The New Matriarch of Australian Rap" (GQ), and Rainbow Chan, Artist of the Year at the 2022 FBi SMAC Awards. But who’s counting? 👀
🎫 Concession tickets just $25 — link in bio.
@barkaa__
@chunyinrainbowchan
The Neighbour at the Gate has been made possible with the generous support of the NSW Government through its Blockbusters Funding initiative.
Jul 2
