Museum collections throughout history have always assumed a geographic center: the unwavering hegemony of Western European art history, the global claim of North American modernism, or the discourse of “universality” of London and New York galleries… The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London embarks on fundamentally upending this historical ethnocentric claim with its exhibition titled “Rising Voices: Contemporary Art from Asia, Australia and the Pacific”, opened at The Porter Gallery.
Bringing together over 40 artists from 25 different countries—with the vast majority of the works being exhibited outside their own geographies for the first time—this massive gathering can be viewed at V&A South Kensington until January 2027.
QAGOMA Collaboration: An Art Bridge Extending from Oceania to Europe
The exhibition is the product of a historic partnership between the V&A and the Brisbane, Australia-based Queensland Art Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA). Home to the world’s most comprehensive and in-depth archive of Asia-Pacific contemporary art, QAGOMA unveils its unique selection in Europe for the first time under the roof of the V&A Porter Gallery thanks to this collaboration.
Spanning over 70 works ranging from sculpture to photography, painting to ceramics, and traditional weaving techniques to body adornment art, the exhibition transforms the display space into an interdisciplinary feast. This rich diversity is not a random curation; on the contrary, it reflects the internal polyphony and pluralistic structure of art practices across the Asia-Pacific region.
A Powerful Objection from Marginalized Voices
One of the most radical qualities of “Rising Voices” is that almost all of the works in the exhibition have never met an audience outside the boundaries of the Asia-Pacific region before. Beyond a simple logistical achievement, this represents a fresh institutional stance and political position: a direct confrontation with the question of which art gains “international” legitimacy and which practices are deemed worthy of traveling exhibitions or the walls of major Western museums.
The adjective “rising” in the exhibition title holds a quiet yet determined objection rising from within. These voices are not newly born; rather, they give due credit to practices that have existed for centuries but were knowingly or unknowingly rendered invisible by Western-centric museology.
Artists and Timeless Plural Practices
The exhibition opens wide space for artists who melt traditional knowledge and contemporary political satire in the same pot:
Naomi Hobson: Coming from Australia’s Cape York Peninsula, the artist documents Aboriginal identity and everyday life from within with deep respect in her photography and digital collages.
Michael Cook: Hailing from Quandamooka country, the photographer reimagines Aboriginal history and the dark legacy of colonialism through dreamlike and uncanny scenes.
Lola Greeno: Tasmanian Aboriginal shell and basket weaving master, bringing intergenerational ancient knowledge together with today’s aesthetic language.
Khadim Ali: Producing between Afghanistan and Australia, the artist blends the figurative heritage of Western art history with traditional Persian-Afghan miniature techniques.
Saira Wasim & Nusra Latif Qureshi: Transform the Pakistani miniature tradition into a sharp visual weapon for current political critique and gender roles.
Pushpa Kumari: Originating from India’s Mithila region, the artist transfers female experiences, rituals, and nature onto canvas using the vibrant Mithila painting technique.
First Nations Perspective and Museological Ethics
The exhibition centers the First Nations perspective in Australia and the Pacific. This approach reflects the new-generation ethnographic and contemporary museological understanding developed by the V&A in recent years. Rather than being content with merely displaying objects, consulting local community advisors directly on how and in what context cultural elements are presented strengthens the ethical backbone of the exhibition.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where does the “Rising Voices” exhibition take place?
The exhibition is held between May 2026 and January 2027 at V&A South Kensington (Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL – The Porter Gallery).
Which countries are the artists in the exhibition from?
Works by over 40 independent artists from 25 separate countries across the Asia-Pacific region (Australia, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Pacific Islands, etc.) are exhibited.
What are the ticket and transportation details?
The V&A’s permanent collection spaces are free of charge, but special exhibitions in The Porter Gallery are ticketed. Visit vam.ac.uk for ticket reservations and current prices. For transportation, South Kensington tube station (Circle, District, and Piccadilly lines) is within short walking distance.
