21 Aug 2020
This term has seen Year 11 Visual Arts exploring a range of different landscape painting styles. This has involved investigating the life and practice of the famous Sidney Nolan.
During 1946-1947 Sidney Nolan painted the “Ned Kelly series” which is regarded as one of Australia’s greatest sequences of paintings of the twentieth century.
Sidney Nolan used the story of Ned Kelly as a metaphor for his own situation. Nolan was constantly avoiding the conscription of Australia since 1942. Nolan recognised Ned Kelly’s story of constantly avoiding the prosecution of his crimes from the government as one that is similar to his own situation.
Students have studied this concept of using narrative to tell a story in their art making practice to bring their own legends to life
Joanne Hamson has chosen to use the Indigenous narrative of the Min Min lights which is commonly known as an unexplained light phenomenon, using this legend to guide her subject matter she has created a two canvas design using a silhouette of a body as the main subject matter. On each canvas, one half of the body is extended across the canvas reaching to the lights. The first features a warm light with a strong muscular hand representing the Min Min light that guides unsuspecting travellers to safety.
Second panel is the dark gloomy light that is said to lead individuals deeper and deeper into the forest and have them never seen again. This is represented by a skeleton figure reaching to the light from one side of the canvas to another.
Stacey Loft has used the Australian legend of the Bunyip which is said to be a large mythical creature in the Australian Outback featured heavily in traditional Australian Aboriginal culture. It is said to lurk in the swamps, billabongs and creeks as a water spirit taking unsuspecting victims from the water’s edge. Stacey used the various depictions of the Bunyip as her inspiration to create her own depiction of the wild beast.
Well done to both girls for showing their skills in painting and creating visually appealing works using the Australian folklore as inspiration!
Emma Dewhirst
Secondary Visual Arts, Photography and Digital Media Teacher