a chinwag with atong atem about her first major solo exhibition

In her first-ever major solo exhibition, South Sudanese, Melbourne/Naarm-based contemporary artist Atong Atem invites us into her inner world. Adorned with self-portraits and explorations of memory and tradition, this world is on full display for free at Melbourne’s NGV from now until June 14th, 2027, in Passage: The Art of Atong Atem. We caught up with Atong for a chinwag about the exhibit to find out how it came to be.Visitors in 'Passage: The Art of Atong Atem', on display 30 October 2026 – 14 June 2027 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Melbourne. Photo: Tom Ross

Tell us about you and your art practice. I’m a visual artist (and sometimes writer) working mostly with photography (and sometimes video) and is interested in the body as a landscape, metaphysics, history, cosmology and speculative fiction.

How does it feel to have your work featured in your first major solo exhibition at the NGV? It’s such a big honour. The NGV is such a major institution and to have the work available for everyone and anyone to see is very special. I’m grateful to have the platform.

Is the idea of placing yourself in your photos something that comes naturally? Self-portraiture was a response to the ethics and history of photography. It felt natural in the sense that there were questions I wanted to explore, but it also wasn’t something I was specifically looking to do. It’s been an insightful part of my practice.Installation view of 'Passage: The Art of Atong Atem', on display 30 October 2026 – 14 June 2027 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Melbourne. Photo: Tom Ross

What are some things that inspire your use of colour? I immediately think of Star Wars (specifically The Phantom Menace), Barbarella, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Ousmane Sambene, Malick Sidibe, Yinka Shonibare, Juba South Sudan and the clothes at a South Sudanese wedding.

You’ve also just released your book, Passage: The Art of Atong Atem. How does publishing your work in print extend the story of the artwork we’ll see at the NGV? The book is a permanent record. It’s been so wonderful to have my parents write my context – personal and cultural – in the book. It adds so much in that regard. It’s exciting too to have the essays by curators that place my work in a larger art history context.

You’ve exhibited all over the world – how does it feel to have these works on display in the city you live and work in? I feel that my work and my practice is inherently so tied to this city. My kids were born here, I live here, I’ve grown here. The community has supported me here. It feels quite special to have Melbourne as my base and my launching pad.Visitors in 'Passage: The Art of Atong Atem', on display 30 October 2026 – 14 June 2027 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Melbourne. Photo: Tom Ross

What’s one feeling that you hope people who visit the exhibition walk away with? I hope that the things I’ve researched will continue to be researched by others. So many of the ideas I’m exploring have come from other artists, writers, filmmakers and anyone who has encouraged me to engage with the world differently because they made something interesting. I hope to continue that journey with my work.

Find out more about Passage at the NGV this-a-way. For more arty chats, spy our chinwag with Frida Las Vegas about kitsch or feast your eyes on our chat with ceramicist Not Core. Plus, sign up to our newsletter for more goodness.