Torres, pictured, who is also director of DACOU Gallery Melbourne, says: "When people think of Aboriginal art they think of dots and symbols in traditional earth colours.

"Contemporary art is very different."

Desert Art from Utopia, which is open 24 hours for patients and visitors, is a hospital fund-raiser, held in conjunction with DACOU.

It includes works by nine indigenous artists from the Utopia region in Australia's central desert, including Gloria Petyarre, Minnie Pwerle, Emily Pwerle and Barbara Weir.

Exhibition curator Rebecca Lovitt said the display warmed up the "heart" of the hospital.

"The work is really extraordinary. It's very bright and vibrant. It almost leaps off the walls."