The Gauguin Dilemma

Artists’ Artists is a podcast brought to you by the National Gallery of Australia. Over the course of the series, host Jennifer Higgie speaks with internationally renowned artists about works of art from the national collection that inspire, move, or intrigue them. Season two has just dropped with episodes featuring Archie Moore, Juz Kitson, Jenny Watson, Urs Fischer and Ben Quilty. You can find it on all podcast apps under Artists' Artists, or visit www.nga.gov.au. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it mean for Pasifika people when tourism is “weaponised”? When you’ve grown dependent on the system that oppresses you, what does it mean to break free? Featuring: artist and curator Rosanna Raymond MNZM | artist and navigator Tahiarii Pariente | Associate Professor Caroline Vercoe | founder Girl Museum Ashley Remer | Prof. Elizabeth C. Childs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Poet Selina Tusituala Marsh tells the story of when she walked into a bar… and became the joke and artist Angela Tiatia finds herself at the centre of a social media pile on. This episode explores what it means to reclaim your story.Featuring: poet Selina Tusitala Marsh | artist Angela Tiatia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this discussion, Caroline Vercoe, an associate professor in art history specializing in Pacific Islander culture, dives into Gauguin's controversial legacy. She explores the tensions between romanticized interpretations of his work and authentic Pacific perspectives, emphasizing the need for cultural sensitivity in art interpretation. Vercoe highlights how Gauguin's pursuit of fame came at a personal cost and examines the complex feelings of ambivalence among the Tahitian people toward his legacy, urging a deeper understanding of both historical and contemporary art.

Maria Lewis, a Melbourne-based screenwriter and pop culture etymologist, joins art history professor Elizabeth C. Childs to explore Paul Gauguin's controversial legacy. They dive into the complexity of Gauguin's relationships with Polynesian cultures, questioning whether modern morality should influence historical judgments. The conversation also tackles themes of consent, the ethics of representation in art, and how the legacy of artists like Gauguin shapes contemporary debates about cultural appropriation and exploitation.

What if an artist painted the very crime he was accused of committing… and now his works of art are worth millions of dollars? The Gauguin Dilemma tells the extraordinary story of one of history’s most lucrative and controversial artists. Experts sort myth from fact and we learn the true cost of his legacy for Pasifika people. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.