At PICA we recognise that we are situated within the unceded lands of the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation. We pay our respects and offer our gratitude to Elders past and present, and to those emerging leaders in the community. We acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the importance of their care and continued connection to culture, community and Country.

Always was, always will be.

Galleries are open today, 10am–5pm. Our exhibitions are always free.

Weekends at PICA: Roberta Joy Rich & Whadjuk Noongar Elder Sandra Harben

Weekends at PICA: Roberta Joy Rich & Whadjuk Noongar Elder Sandra Harben

PICA marks the opening of Roberta Joy Rich’s solo exhibition The Purple Shall Govern with a Welcome to Country by Whadjuk Noongar Elder Sandra Harben followed by an in-conversation with the artist. Inspired by surviving evidence of South Africa’s 1989 ‘Purple Rain’ Anti-Apartheid protest, The Purple Shall Govern explores historic connections between settler-nation Australia and South Africa and invites viewers to consider activism, power and public space.

Building on their recent discussions in the lead up to the exhibition’s presentation at PICA, Rich and Harben will share stories and reflections on Australia’s silent Apartheid and, their family histories both in Boorloo and South Africa, marking the opening of the exhibition on Whadjuk Country with conversation and connection.  

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Roberta Joy Rich is an educator, curator and multi-disciplinary artist. Her arts practice utilises historical archives, storytelling, photo-media, text and sometimes satire in her video, sound, installation and mixed media practice. Often referencing her own diaspora southern African identity and experiences, Roberta engages in a process of re-framing materials to unearth silenced narratives and the possibilities they conjure. Drawing from various epistemologies, she is interested in notions of authenticity and challenging singularity in constructs of race and gender identity, with hope to deconstruct colonial modalities and propose sites of self-determination within her practice. 


Supporters

PICA’s opening events, public programs, family and learning programs and studio residencies are supported by our Community Engagement Partner the City of Perth.  

City of Perth, City of Light

Image: Roberta Joy Rich, Purple Rain on September 2nd, 2022, The Purple Shall Govern, installation view, Footscray Community Arts, Melbourne, 2022, image courtesy and © the artist, photo: Gianna Rizzo