Sidney Nolan: Desert and Drought
Environment

Sidney Nolan experienced a break-through in his Australian iconography in June 1952, when Brisbane’s daily newspaper, Courier-Mail, commissioned a series of black and white drawings of the worst drought in recorded history. Sidney and Cynthia flew to Darwin and travelled to Wave Hill Station, where they commenced a tour of some of worst drought-affected areas.

Nolan’s photographs taken during this journey reflected the photojournalistic nature of the trip. This time his images were less concerned with generic and expansive vistas, and focused instead on the microcosm of his surroundings.

Reunited as a group after half a century, Nolan’s drought paintings of animal carcasses offer a powerful commentary on the decay of organic matter and subsequent regeneration. Nolan’s interest in the sculptural quality of his subject is most evident, and there is in these images a feeling, perhaps not shared by every viewer, of noble grandeur, calm simplicity, and classical beauty.

Drought continues to be a source of devastation and despair for many Australians and Nolan’s images offer a timely reaffirmation of this aspect of our history:

The paintings…are by no means picture postcards; but I do believe that they reflect an aspect of Australia which has a bearing on most of our lives and thoughts.

Sidney Nolan to Miss Menuhin, Sydney, 10 June 1953, draft copy, Jinx Nolan Papers.

 

Sidney NOLAN
(1917–92)
Carcase 1953
oil and enamel paint on composition board
91.4 x 121.5 cm
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased through The Art Foundation of Victoria with the assistance of the National Australia Bank Limited, Honorary Life Benefactor, 1995
© Courtesy of Mary Nolan