''But in actual fact, I wanted to do the opposite.

''I think it just makes sense for where Canberra is. Canberra, a 20th century city, with the National Gallery opening at the end of the 20th century, I think it should emphasise the art of the 20th century internationally.

''When we started ... art of India and South-East Asia wasn't well represented in other galleries in Australia. When we were formulating our policies just before the gallery opened in the late 60s, there was a move to actually complement what was Australian.''

Now, he said, the gallery has re-emphasised the need to build up its South-East Asian collection.

''Interestingly enough, not only does it complement and not rival the state galleries that have been established for 100 years longer than us, but it also is very national, it's very Canberra.''

The same goes for the gallery's Australian collection, which Dr Radford sees as one of the most balanced collections geographically, and in terms of time and media in the country.

''What we are doing, we want to do it well. We don't want anything half-hearted about it.''

He said ultimately, he wanted the bulk of the Australian collection to come down from the cramped, ''attic corridor'' space upstairs, and be displayed on the gallery's main level.

Visitors, he says, can go where they please, and ''saturate themselves'' in whatever collections they choose.

''But what I feel Australians have to be interested in is their own culture,'' he said.

And, lest Canberrans get too much of a sense of ownership of the gallery, Dr Radford is also keen to emphasise the institution's national status.

''I know Canberra people ... are very possessive of it, and very proud of it, but it is not the Canberra gallery Canberra people share it with the rest of Australia,'' he said, with one of his trademark belly laughs.

''Not necessarily a popular thing to say, but I think it is true!''