Ivan Durrant<br/>
<em>Angus cow</em> 2001<br/>
synthetic polymer paint on composition board<br/>
120.0 x 91.5 cm<br/>
Collection of the artist<br/>
© Ivan Durrant

Ivan Durrant

Barrier draw

Free entry

The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Fed Square

Level 3

23 Nov 20 – 25 Apr 21

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Described as the enfant terrible of Australian art, Ivan Durrant (b. 1947) is a leading exponent of photorealist painting as well as a sculptor, filmmaker, performance artist and writer. Durrant first achieved public notoriety in 1975 when he deposited the carcass of ‘Beverly the cow’ in the NGV forecourt with the intention to shock those who could be horrified at the death of an animal but also happy to eat steak for dinner.

Durrant’s career spans close to five decades. During this time he has produced a remarkable body of work. His most recent paintings have been dubbed ‘supraphotolism’, a term coined to describe a style of working that goes beyond ‘super-realism’ or photorealism’s accurate mimicking of the photograph. Ivan Durrant: Barrier Draw traces the evolution of Durrant’s extraordinarily diverse artistic career. It includes his earliest folk paintings made in response to his childhood experiences of country life; the realist paintings, short films and sculptures of the 1970s and 80s, including his popular race track and movie star series; his controversial and politically motivated performance works – through to his evocative ‘soft-focus’ shed, football and racing paintings of the 1990s and 2000s. In addition to existing works, Durrant has produced a new larger-than-life sculpture to astonish visitors to the exhibition.

Exhibition labels

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Ivan Durrant
The apple 1970
synthetic polymer paint on composition board
90.0 x 75.0 cm
Collection of the artist
© Ivan Durrant
Ivan Durrant
Cow jacket 1970
synthetic polymer paint on composition board
75.0 x 90.0 cm
Collection of the artist
© Ivan Durrant
Ivan Durrant
Drive out 1971
synthetic polymer paint on composition board
76.0 x 92.0 cm
Collection of the artist
© Ivan Durrant
Ivan Durrant
2 Jockeys 1975
synthetic polymer paint on composition board
81.0 x 122.0 cm
Collection of the artist
© Ivan Durrant
Ivan DURRANT
Butcher shop (1977-1978)
synthetic polymer and enamel paint on composition board and wood, ceramic tiles, transparent synthetic polymer resin, mirror, steel, fluorescent light, plastic, polyvinyl chloride, metal, string
(a-l) (241.0 x 303.0 x 128.7 cm) (overall)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of Mr and Mrs Burdett A. Laycock, 1978
A15.a-l-1978
© Ivan Durrant
Ivan Durrant
Dicker Rd. sheep floor 1997
synthetic polymer paint on composition board
92.0 x 122.0 cm
Collection of the artist
© Ivan Durrant
Ivan Durrant
Angus cow 2001
synthetic polymer paint on composition board
120.0 x 91.5 cm
Collection of the artist
© Ivan Durrant
Ivan Durrant
Full pen 2003
synthetic polymer paint on composition board
91.5 x 120.3 cm
Collection of the artist
© Ivan Durrant
Ivan Durrant
Fallen Anzac 2008
synthetic polymer paint on composition board
99.0 x 147.1 cm
Collection of the artist
© Ivan Durrant
Ivan Durrant
Power and passion 2010
synthetic polymer paint on composition board
99.1 x 147.1 cm
Collection of the artist
© Ivan Durrant
Ivan Durrant
Mounting yard 2012
synthetic polymer paint on
composition board
102.0 x 148.0 cm
Collection of the artist
© Ivan Durrant
Ivan Durrant
Spring 2016
synthetic polymer paint on composition board
100.4 x 157.5 cm
Collection of the artist
© Ivan Durrant
Ivan Durrant
Water reeds 2018
synthetic polymer paint on composition board
102.0 x 148.0 cm
Collection of the artist
© Ivan Durrant
Ivan Durrant
River red gum 2016
synthetic polymer paint on composition board
102.0 x 147.5 cm
Collection of the artist
© Ivan Durrant
Ivan Durrant
Studio 1–14 2017–19
synthetic polymer paint on composition board
(100.0 x 145.0 cm) (each)
(installation variable)
Collection of the artist
© Ivan Durrant
Ivan Durrant | Exhibition video tour