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PrintSidney Nolan
- 22 February–18 May 2008
- Entry Fee
- The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia
born Australia 1917, lived in England 1953–92, died England 1992
Death of Constable Scanlon 1946
enamel paint on hardboard
90.4 x 121.2 cm
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, gift of Sunday Reed 1977
“I’m very interested, in fact, compelled and dedicated to transmitting emotions and I care for very little else. I care for that process so much that I’m prepared to belt the paint across the canvas much faster than it should be belted; I don’t care so long as I can get the emotional communication; I will sacrifice everything to it – and that I’ve done.”
Sidney Nolan, quoted in Sidney Nolan - Australia, 1979 p.204
Not since Sidney Nolan’s death in 1992 has there been a major retrospective. Now, through the careful selection of Nolan’s potent masterpieces, the National Gallery of Victoria will present the most important survey of the artist’s career when Sidney Nolan opens at the end of February 2008.
The breathtaking speed at which Nolan worked, and his prolific output – estimated to be many thousands of paintings – was always a dilemma for the numerous shows held during his lifetime which attempted to define his genius.
This major exhibition will feature many of Nolan’s finest masterpieces: almost 120 paintings gathered from public and private collections in Australia, London, the United States and France. A large number have rarely been seen in public, creating a fresh experience for a new generation, and possibly a rediscovery for even those who are already familiar with the artist and his work.
Dr Gerard Vaughan, NGV Director, said Nolan occupies a crucial place in the history of 20th century painting.
“It could be argued that Sidney Nolan’s imagery of Ned Kelly is the best known subject in the whole of Australian art. He was, and remains, Australia’s most recognised artist.
“Paradoxically, it could also be said that he is one of Australia’s least understood artists, and this exhibition gives us an important opportunity to unravel something of the mystery surrounding Nolan,” Dr Vaughan said.
“Everyone should see it.”
“Nolan transformed our view of the Australian landscape, creating spectacular and original compositions. His work was unpredictable, imaginative and poetic and led him to become one of our first internationally acclaimed artists,” said Frances Lindsay, NGV Deputy Director.
The paintings in Sidney Nolan will be displayed in strict chronology, underlining the evolution of Nolan’s vision from its genesis in Melbourne during the late 1930s to the UK half a century later.
Each critical phase is represented, from the St Kilda and Wimmera themes, through the first Ned Kelly series, Central and Northern Australian landscapes and explorer subjects, African, Antarctic and European paintings, to Chinese and Australian-inspired abstractions.
Kirsty Grant, NGV Coordinating Curator, said: “Sidney Nolan was able to glimpse a motif with the immediacy of a photographic lens shutter, generating a bewildering plethora of images, from ephemeral sketches to large-scale compositions, many of which have become unforgettable icons of 20th century Australian art.”
Some of Nolan’s most famous paintings will be included, such as Boy and the moon 1939-40, the iconic Kelly masterpiece First class marksman 1946, Pretty polly mine 1948, Burke and Wills leaving Melbourne 1950, The temptation of St Anthony 1952 and Rimbaud at Harar 1963.
At the epicentre of the retrospective will be the historic conjoining in two semi-circles of the multi-panel paintings Riverbend 1964-65 and Riverbend II 1965-66. Riverbend and Riverbend II evoke the place where the artist’s grandfather struggled on the land, and as a policeman pursued the Kelly gang, embedding at once in Nolan’s psyche the refrain of a violent past and a deep love of the Australian bush. The semi-circle multi-panel paintings echo Monet’s famous waterlilies murals in Paris.
In anticipation of the exhibition’s popularity, The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia will open 7 days a week for Sidney Nolan from 10am-5pm daily between 22 February and 18 May 2008. The exhibition will also be open late every Thursday night until 9pm. Admission: Adult $15 / Concession $12 / Family $42.
A comprehensive audio and visual guide has been produced for this exhibition along with an extensive Education and Public Programs schedule. For more details visit http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/ngvaustralia/ or call (03) 8620 2222.
This exhibition has been organised by the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Principal Sponsor: Ernst & Young
Support Sponsors: The Age, Sofitel Melbourne, Melbourne Airport
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For media enquiries please visit our media website http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/media/ or contact:
Kitty Walker, Media & Public Affairs Coordinator, (03) 8620 2411, 0417 575 088, kitty.walker@ngv.vic.gov.au
Sue Coffey, Head of Media & Public Affairs, (03) 8620 2346, 0417 558 511, sue.coffey@ngv.vic.gov.au
