Provenance research aims to establish the history of ownership of a work of art, from the time of its creation to the present. The Art Gallery of NSW is currently undertaking provenance research across the Asian art collection. This is an ongoing process and many of the objects have long histories without written records.
The dynamic ancestral and animist art of Southeast Asia has a history dating back thousands of years. Extraordinary works of art have been created across the region in association with complex belief systems based on venerating the ancestors, deities and spirits believed to preside over the lives of humans. In a world where the sacred and everyday are inextricably linked, imagery intended to revere, appease and protect against supernatural forces pervades all areas of human activity.
Click on an image to see the collection record for a work of art including its provenance. Details will be updated as more information becomes available.
It is important to note:
● No claims have been made against any of these works of art.
● Gaps in provenance do not necessarily indicate theft or looting.
● For many works, details may never be found.
The Art Gallery of NSW welcomes any information regarding the provenance of works of art in the collection. To share your knowledge, please contact provenance@ag.nsw.gov.au
