This event was hosted by Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Andrew J. Deeks, Art Collection Board Chair Brandon Munro, board members, and curatorial staff. Notable guests included Carly Lane, Curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art at the Art Gallery of WA and her husband Premier Roger Cook MLA. 

Murdoch University Art Curator Mark Stewart said the title of the exhibition reflected the importance of showcasing powerful voices and truth-telling. 

 “This facet of the University’s Art Collection reflects the survival, resistance, resilience, and the enduring strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their cultures through a modern lens, highlighting personal, political and historical narratives,” he said. 

Speaking to a diverse range of current and urgent issues, this is arguably some of the most significant contemporary Australian art of our time.” Murdoch University Art Curator, Mark Stewart

Pro Vice Chancellor First Nations Chanelle van den Berg said art can shape our understanding of history, identity, and truth. 

“In terms of putting a commitment to First Nations peoples into action, the Art Collection is the perfect physical manifestation of that, and by being a visual medium, it is a unique tool that is able to reach the whole Murdoch community,” she said. 

First Nations art carries the weight of tens of thousands of years of cultural heritage, traditions, and deep connections to the land."Pro Vice Chancellor First Nations Chanelle van den Berg

“Additionally, this visibility empowers First Nations artists by offering them a platform to reclaim their narratives.” 

The featured artists include Tony Albert, Selma Coulthard, Dr Brenda L. Croft, Dr Fiona Foley, Dr Julie Gough, Sandra Hill, Vanessa Inkamala, Kait James, Dianne Jones, Dylan Mooney, Thea Anamara Perkins, Dr Ryan Presley, Brian Robinson, Mervyn Rubuntja, Dr Christian Thompson AO, James Tylor, and Keemon Williams.  

The artworks on display have been acquired over the past 20 years, adding rich and strategic depth to Murdoch University's Art Collection. 

Mark concluded his speech by thanking the numerous donors who had gifted artworks to the Art Collection via the Federal Government’s Cultural Gifts Program over the last 12 months, as well as two student interns who have provided support and assistance to various Art Collection projects and activities throughout the year. 

Guests at the Art Soirée had the opportunity to engage with these compelling artworks, which highlight the importance of truth-telling and the powerful role of art in society. The event underscored and supported Murdoch University's commitment to celebrating and preserving the cultural heritage of First Nations peoples. 

The "Speaking Truth to Power" exhibition will continue to be showcased at the Murdoch University Art Gallery throughout 2025, offering visitors an insightful and transformative experience through the lens of contemporary First Nations art.