‘Boundless Plains’ exhibition opens at National Art Gallery

The Islamic Museum of Australia, in collaboration with the Australian High Commission to the Maldives, has opened the photographic exhibition Boundless Plains at the National Art Gallery.

The exhibition was inaugurated on Sunday, 1 February, and presents a visual narrative of Muslim life in Australia, tracing stories that span centuries. Developed by the Islamic Museum of Australia, Boundless Plains documents the experiences of early maritime and inland pioneers, including Afghan cameleers and Malay pearl divers as well as more recent migrant and refugee communities whose lives continue to shape contemporary Australia.

The exhibition also acknowledges centuries old maritime connections linking the Indonesian archipelago and northern Australia, highlighting early interactions between Makassan trepang fishermen and the Yolŋu people of Arnhem Land. These exchanges reflect a shared Indian Ocean history of cultural contact and mutual respect that predates European settlement.

Through intimate photography and personal storytelling, Boundless Plains explores Australia’s historical and cultural links with the wider Muslim world, inviting audiences to reflect on shared experiences of faith, resilience and belonging across borders and generations.

Founder of the Islamic Museum of Australia, Moustafa Fahour OAM, said presenting the exhibition underscored the enduring relevance of Indian Ocean connections. “The exhibition reminds us that Australia’s Muslim story is part of a much older, interconnected world - one shaped by seafaring, exchange and shared values that continue to link our communities today,” he said.

Australian high commissioner to the Maldives David Jessup said the exhibition highlighted the importance of education and cultural exchange in international engagement. “By sharing Australia’s Muslim history with Maldivian audiences, Boundless Plains strengthens mutual understanding and deepens people-to-people connections between our countries,” he said.

Boundless Plains forms part of the Islamic Museum of Australia’s permanent gallery displays in Melbourne and has previously toured Abu Dhabi, Jakarta, Brunei and Kuala Lumpur.

The exhibition will be open to the public at the National Art Gallery from 10am on 2 February to 6pm on 5 February.