The Matildas

In 2023, the CommBank Matildas made history. Their performance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, transformed how Australians engage with women’s sport and galvanised audiences across the country. The nation held its breath as Cortnee Vine stepped up to take her penalty against France in the quarter final, ending the longest penalty shoot out at World Cup level, and 11.15 million Australians tuned in to watch the team’s semi-final against England, the most-watched broadcast in Australian television history.

This video work by Sāmoan/Australian contemporary artist Angela Tiatia is a portrait of the team and a testament to this cultural moment. All 23 players are brought together, filmed during seven shoots that took place across three continents. In the work we, the audience, bear witness. We see the players in moments of repose, candidly interacting with teammates, but also as game-ready athletes. We catch furtive glances – laughter and playfulness but also pensiveness and reflection. Pre-game rituals and iconic moments are relived: Steph Catley and Sam Kerr strap on the captain’s armband; Hayley Raso ties her iconic yellow ribbon around her ponytail; Ellie Carpenter puts on her blue headband; Vine kicks and kicks again.

These scenes take place not on a football field but a bare and nondescript film set. Glimpses of the film crews remind us that these women are always in the spotlight of the global media machine. And the players confront this reality head on; one moment they are at ease, the next they are staring down the barrel of the camera. Alternating between these two states, Tiatia negotiates the tension between public persona and personhood. This is a collective portrait that grapples with the monumentality of the Matildas through raw emotional nuance. It is a work where power and honesty coexist in every frame.

Players in order of appearance:

Steph Catley
Mary Fowler
Lydia Williams
Emily Van Egmond
Alanna Kennedy
Caitlin Foord
Ellie Carpenter
Mackenzie Arnold
Tameka Yallop
Hayley Raso
Clare Hunt
Charlotte Grant
Katrina Gorry
Kyra Cooney-Cross
Alex Chidiac
Courtney Nevin
Clare Wheeler
Kyah Simon
Clare Polkinghorne
Cortnee Vine
Teagan Micah
Aivi Luik
Sam Kerr

The Gallery acknowledges the support and assistance of Football Australia.

Director/Editor: Angela Tiatia
Artist Assistant: Kieren Cooney
Composer: James Peter Brown
Producers: Seth Wilson, Catherine Anderson, Roxanne Ogilvy Watson, Joe Yardley, Tristan Gardner
Assistant Director: Jessica Lee, Adam Taylor
Director of Photography: Ben Shirley, Chaimaa Ormázabal, Peter Simonite, Tristan Gardner
Steadicam: Jared Deer
2nd Camera: Kieren Cooney, Giovanna Torrieri
1st Assistant Camera: Sonya Shpynova, Scott Dawson, Chris Smith, Adam Schwartz
2nd Assistant Camera: Claudia Orriols, Cecelia Hedditch
Camera Production Assistant: Rex Hudson
Digital Imaging Technician: Dragan Ajvazovic, Johnny Adams, Cecelia Hedditch
Key Grip: Barry Strickland, Peter Stockley
Grip: Carlos Campos, Adam Vitolins, Mike Essco
Gaffer: David Witchell, Mike Roberts, Brecan Mitchell, Scott Cremeens, Fess Rice
Best Boy Electrics: Thi Lam, Adrian Rose
Electrician: Maria Kalecinska, Rob Neilson, Marcus Knott
Hair & Make Up: Anya McDevitt, Amoré Monét, Jo Fletcher, Courtney Scott, Maria Taumoepeau, Ashley Bromirski
Editor’s Assistant: Sunday Jones-Evans
Online Editor/Colourist/Visual Effects: Chris Grocott, David Mosqueda, Jake Dobbie
Colourist: Alina Bermingham
Editing Consultant: Ceinwen Berry
Production Designer: Duy Hoàng
Art Assist: Adrián Sánchez
Art Production Assistant: Jacob Calle
Production Assistant: Dana Marie King, Jake Wishard, Omer Burhan, Tempest Taumoepeau

Commissioned with funds provided by Tim Fairfax AC and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia
© National Portrait Gallery of Australia