CANBERRA: The National Portrait Gallery of Australia has unveiled a portrait of Indigenous elder Beryl Van-Oploo, the first artwork in the gallery made in an etching style.
Aunty Beryl, 83, is known for sharing knowledge of native ingredients and First Nations cooking practices, having fed the royal family and inspired Michelin star chefs. In the etching, she is depicted with a cup of tea and biscuits.
The portrait, revealed in Canberra on Tuesday, reduced her to tears. "It's putting us on the map as Indigenous people, that's how I see it," she said.
Governor-General Sam Mostyn spoke at the event, saying, "We should think about every cup of tea we have with all our friends and family an act of ceremony."
The etching is the work of Indigenous artist Dennis Golding, who was once a student at a school Aunty Beryl helped establish in Redfern, Sydney.
Source: northweststar.com.au
