THERE’S a note of excitement at the National Gallery of Australia today as handlers begin the pack-out for a big survey exhibition presenting 200 years of Australian art in London.

The exhibition, on the theme of land and landscape, is being staged at the Royal Academy of Arts from September 21 to December 8. NGA Director Ron Radford and artist John Olsen were on hand as paintings were taken down and packed for transit to the UK.

The exhibition will present around 200 outstanding examples of Australian art, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, from 1800 until the present day. While the national art collection will be the source of half the paintings, Australian works about land and landscape will also be drawn from other public collections in Australia and Britain.

Charles Saumarez Smith, Secretary & Chief Executive at the Royal Academy of Arts, believes the exhibition will capture the imagination of audiences in London and strengthen the cultural connection between Britain and Australia.

Radford agreed, saying, “This partnership is a great opportunity to present Australia’s strong visual arts tradition, both indigenous and non-indigenous, in Europe.”

The Royal Academy of Arts was founded in 1768 by George III. An independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects, its main purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and appreciation of the visual arts through exhibitions, education and debate.