It was Arthur Boyd’s vision to provide the opportunity for any Australian to have their lives enriched by creative artists and within the 1000 hectares that Bundanon sits on, Boyd’s vision has become a reality.

With the 2025 Season 2 exhibition well under way until October 5, Bundanon is exhibiting the works of two leading Australian artists, Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara woman Betty Kuntiwa Pumani and David Sequeira.

Pumani’s exhibition is her first major museum survey with works from 2012 to the present day titled maḻatja-maḻatja (those who come after) and was curated by Bundanon CEO Rachel Kent and Mimili Maku Arts.

“Betty Kuntiwa Pumani is a visionary artistic and cultural leader,” Kent said.

“It was a great honour to work with Betty on her major commission for ‘The National’ – her largest and most ambitious work, spanning ten meters in length – in 2020; and now, five years later, to bring her art to Bundanon for her first major museum survey.”

Pumani says she is overwhelmed with the opportunity to exhibit her works at Bundanon and shares her vision.

“I’m proud to show these works together at Bundanon Art Museum,” Pumani said.

“It is a special thing to be able to do. And for this exhibition, I painted one more canvas for the next generation.

“I was thinking about the women who came before me, and those who will come after me. This is for future generations, for those children to learn from.”

Leading Melbourne-based Sequeira’s solo exhibition The Shape of Music, incorporates four bodies of work in diverse media, including soundscape and a major new commission for Bundanon with Form from the Formless (Under Bundanon Stars).

“Beyond the distinctions of the past, present and the future, history and life become more malleable through geometry and colour – it’s how I see and understand the world,” Sequeira said.

In the rarely shown work of Sequeira’s A Sacred Conversation (2007), the work refers to the Italian mystic and poet, Saint Francis of Assisi. Interestingly, Sequeira’s work is exhibited alongside Boyd’s renowned suite St Francis of Assisi (1964-65), with eight works on paper and a related painting selected by Sequeira from the Bundanon Art Collection.

Speaking about the two exhibitions collectively, Kent said “we are thrilled to present these two solo exhibitions for Bundanon’s Season 2 program.”

“Through their embrace of diverse artforms and newly commissioned work, these significant exhibitions reflect Arthur Boyd’s vision for Bundanon as a ‘working arts centre’, and a place for ideas, contemplation, and connection in the present.”

When reflecting on what Bundanon provides not only to the Shoalhaven community, but the greater arts community of Australia, Kent explained Bundanon’s importance.

“This is an important part of the South Coast because it is history, it is a legacy in terms of a famous creative family, but it is also a centre where all people can come,” Kent said.

“It is a really important centre for wider community as well.”

Yuin Elder and Bundanon board member Uncle Gerry Moore OAM told The Bugle that the Shoalhaven River and the land which Bundanon is on is connected to a deep and rich history with the Traditional Owners of the Land.

“Being a board member for Bundanon I get to talk about the importance and significance of what and where Bundanon is located,” Uncle Gerry said.

“It is a deeply spiritual place and a lot of activity concerning Aboriginal engagement, knowledge, teaching, all those sorts of things.

“When you let people know where they are located, they have a better sense of understanding the importance of Bundanon.”

Uncle Gerry is blown away with what Bundanon provides to the Shoalhaven.

“The kinds of exhibitions Bundanon has brought to the Shoalhaven for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people has been, in many cases, mind-blowing,” Uncle Gerry said.

“One of the best things about Bundanon is that is encourages so much Aboriginal activity and connectedness.”

At the beginning of 2023, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Federal Arts Minister Tony Burke launched the National Cultural Policy Revive: a place for every story, a story for every place, setting Australia’s cultural policy for the next five years.

Bundanon is one of the nine National Collecting Institutions in the federal Arts portfolio.

Last year in a letter to Sam Edwards, the chair of the Bundanon Trust Board, Minister Burke said: “Bundanon is vital to Australia’s cultural sector and has an important role to play in achieving the National policy outcomes.”

Uncle Gerry paid tribute to the Kent (pictured) and the Burke MP for their stewardship and engagement with Aboriginal people.

Bundanon CEO Rachel Kent. Photo: Zan Wimberley

“It’s got a huge involvement and engagement with the local community and, of course, the community right across the country because of the stewardship of CEO, Rachel Kent, and because of the Minister of Arts [Tony Burke MP],” Uncle Gerry said.

“One of the pillars of what Bundanon’s brief is engagement with Aboriginal people.

“That really brings our community together and makes sure that our arts, our traditions, everything to do with our mob is right at the forefront, and that is what I love about it.”

Bundanon was gifted to the Australian people by Arthur and Yvonne Boyd in 1993 in an extraordinary act of philanthropy to the arts of Australia.

Bundanon Art Museum, The Bridge and Boyd Education Centre opened to the public three years ago with its new build, which was designed by Kersten Thompson Architects (KTA) in Melbourne and has won 13 awards.

“It is a very sustainable approach to architecture within the natural landscape, with the Art Museum situated within the side of a hill for fire protection and The Bridge which straddles a flood gully, is designed for flood mitigation,” Kent said.

Kent told The Bugle that the Boyd Music Series is an exciting collaboration.

“We’ve built up a really expansive program [for the season], with one of the highlights is a collaboration with Sydney Opera House,” Kent said.

“It’s [Boyd Music Series] a beautiful concert series on site at Bundanon.”

For more information on the Boyd Music Series head to: https://www.bundanon.com.au/bundanon-launches-inaugural-boyd-music-series/

For more information on Bundanon head to: https://www.bundanon.com.au/