Tales of a Technogypsie

Wandering into the Canberra Museum and Art Gallery i was able to enjoy 15 of the fine collections of Australia’s notable artist, Sidney Nolan. This was donated by Australia’s citizens and include some of the first works of the Burke and Wills paintings. Sidney Nolan is most famous for his iconic “Ned Kelly” paintings all demonstrating Australian history, landscape, and European modern art. Sidney’s art weaves together biography and autobiography with a narrative about Ned Kelly and his gang, shooting of constables at Stringybark Creek, the chase, police spy Aaron Sherrit, siege of the Glenrowan hotel, and Ned’s hanging. Sidney’s style was based on direct vision and intuitive execution. Sir Sidney Robert Nolan lived from April 22, 1917 until November 28, 1992 and was one of Australia’s most famous painters and printmakers. He was born in the Melbourne suburb of Carlton as the eldest of 4 and was a student at the Brighton Road State School on into the Brighton Technical School, Prahran Technical College, and night classes at the National Gallery of Victoria Art School. In 1938 he married Elizabeth, and the 1940′s he joined the Angry Penguins. In 1951 he was travelling around Europe settling in London focusing on painting themes based on festivals in Europe and Greek Mythology while in Greece. He was a World War II deserter, after which he lived at the fine arts patrons Reeds home where he began painting the iconic “Ned Kelly” series and hooked up with Sunday Reed although he was at the time married to Cynthia. By 1978 he married Mary Boyd. Besides the Ned Kelly series, Sidney painted numerous interpretations of legendary and historical figures such as the explorers Burke and Wills, as well as Eliza Fraser, Australian nationalism, the Australian outback, and Australian life. He was also known for his theatrical set designs and books of illustrations. He experimented with numerous styles and applications of paint, often devising his own methodology, and focused on the figurative potential of painting. By 1981 he was appointed a Knight Bachelor for service to art and received the Order of Merit in 1983. His Trust was established in 1985 to support artists and musician as well as exhibition space for his works and others at the Rodd in Herefordshire, England. He was made Companion of the Order of Australia by 1988, and elected honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, as well as a member of the Royal Academy of Arts. Rating: 4 stars out of 5. Visited 4/23/11.

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