National Gallery of Australia launches Project 1: Sarah Lucas as part of Know My Name: Australian Women Artists 1900 to Now

Part of the Know My Name: Australian Women Artists 1900 to Now's second exhibition that opened in June, the project takes up a space unlike any other in the National Gallery of Australia.

Along with showcasing artist Sarah Lucas' sculptural work, the project exhibits her first self-portraits, Eating a Banana, that have been reproduced to more than seven metres high to cover the exhibition walls.

"She's been one of the most influential artists of the last 30 years, certainly one of the most influential artists coming out of the United Kingdom," curator of projects Peter Johnson said.

"She's transformed everyday materials like stockings, vegetables, cigarettes through sculpture and photography as a way of really asking difficult questions about gender and sexuality and our bodies.

"But I think the most important thing when coming to the work of Sarah Lucas is to understand her sense of humour. The works are funny."

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Part two of Know My Name, which was curated by Deborah Hart and Elspeth Pitt, is one of the most comprehensive exhibitions of art by women ever assembled in Australia.

Mainly drawn from the national collection, the exhibition celebrates the achievements of more than 250 artists. The exhibition continues on from the works presented in part one, which was on show from November last year.

"There's a strong emphasis on materiality, on the making of works and we've really tried to get works across a diverse range of media," Dr Hart said.

"We're also looking at artists from diverse backgrounds.

"And one thing that's very important to say about this exhibition is that it is part of a wider initiative, the Know My Name initiative, and this is reflected in our aim for gender equity in the gallery."

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