The Asian Lantern gallery on lower level 1 of the Art Gallery of New South Wales’ historic south building, now known as Naala Nura, presents works from our collection of Asian art, which stretches from Indonesia to Mongolia, from Japan to Iran.

In this gallery, which includes a working Japanese tearoom, the exhibition Elemental investigates the natural elements of earth, water and fire, to which some traditions add wood, metal, void, and wind or air. The works on display illuminate our understanding of each of these elemental groupings, and the vital connections between them.

Highlights include Lu Yang’s The great adventure of material world – game film, which brings together sci-fi gaming with Hindu and Buddhist iconography; Nam June Paik’s 1991 video sculpture Buddha game; and Thao Nguyen Phan’s thought-provoking film Becoming alluvium, alongside sculptures, prints, paintings and textiles from across the centuries.