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Listed under:  Arts  >  Visual arts
Video

Conrad Martens: 'View from Rose Bank' 1840

Many early artists romanticised the Australian colonial landscape and did not always strictly paint what they saw. In this example Martens has given the landscape a decidedly Italian atmosphere, softening the colour palate and creating a more ‘civilised' view. Can you think of why the artist may be interested in changing ...

Video

Charles Conder: 'Hot wind' 1889

In the late 19th century symbolism was used in depictions of the Australian Colonial landscape. This example painted by Charles Conder was painted during the Victorian drought in 1889.How does the artist convey the heat of the Australian landscape in this image? What role does the female figure play in this painting?

Interactive

Finding your frame

Developing a concept by making artworks from found objects. Explore how artist, James Powditch, assembles found objects to create artworks inspired by his love of film.

Video

John Lewin: 'Reed warbler' 1805

Natural history illustrator John Lewin was the first professional artist to come to Australia as a free settler. His collected illustrations of native birds became the first non-government book published in the colony. How difficult do you think it was to identify and illustrate so many different birds?

Image

Bob Burruwal and Lena Yarinkura, 'Wyarra family group', 2010

This is a sculpture by Rembarrnga artist Bob Burruwal (b1952) and Rembarrnga/Kune artist Lena Yarinkura (b1948) depicting spirit figures - male and female, young and old - standing near their camp dog. The sculpture is shown as an enlargeable image. This work was exhibited as a part of the second National Indigenous Art ...

Text

Serious fun: a conversation with Yoshitomo Nara and Hideki Toyoshima

This is a video of an interview with the Japanese pop artist Yoshitomo Nara and his long-term collaborator, the Osaka designer Hideki Toyoshima, about the 2010 exhibition 'Yoshitomo Nara: Nobody's fool'. The interview is conducted by the exhibition curator, Miwako Tezuka, and is provided in two formats: a short 3-minute ...

Image

Julie Gough, 'Some Tasmanian Aboriginal children living with non-Aboriginal people before 1840', 2008

This is a sculpture by Trawlwoolway artist Julie Gough representing the experiences of Tasmanian Aboriginal children living with non-Aboriginal people. It was exhibited in the second National Indigenous Art Triennial,' unDisclosed', at the National Gallery of Australia (NGA). Further information about the artists and the ...

Image

Tony Albert, 'ASH on me', 2008

This is an installation by Girramay artist Tony Albert (b1981) using black text that reads ‘ASH on me’ and found objects: ceramic and metal ashtrays. These objects present Aboriginal people in different ways, some as caricatures. The work of art is shown as an enlargeable image. Text onscreen gives information about Albert’s ...

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Danie Mellor, 'Culture warriors', 2007

This is a mixed media artwork by Mamu/Ngagen/Ngajan artist Danie Mellor (b1971), presenting two fighting kangaroos in the foreground of a ‘traditional’ fine bone china scene. The drawing/collage is shown as an enlargeable image. It was exhibited in the 2008 travelling exhibition of the first National Indigenous Art Triennial, ...

Image

Water

This is a PDF resource that focuses on the theme of water in Australian artworks, featuring 15 different artworks using various mediums. Each page includes an image, description and context of the artwork, and information about the artist, as well as specific focus questions or key statements that prompt a response to the ...

Image

Yoshitomo Nara: nobody's fool

This is a website introducing the exhibition, 'Yoshitomo Nara: Nobody's fool' (2010-11, USA) featuring artworks by the Japanese pop artist. Information about the exhibition is organised under three headings: Isolation, Rebellion and Music. Also included are images and information about Nara's installations (including a ...

Video

James Cant: 'Objects in the landscape', 1936

This resource includes an enlargeable image, with corresponding catalogue information, of the surrealist painting 'Objects in the landscape' by James Cant (1911-82). There is also a video with audio commentary, onscreen text on the artist's career and an interpretation of the painting. Cant was influenced by Surrealism, ...

Video

Max Meldrum: 'Poland (Madame de Tarczynska)', 1917

This resource includes an enlargeable image, with corresponding catalogue information, of the painting 'Poland (Madame de Tarczynska)' by Max Meldrum (1875-1955). There is also a video with audio commentary on the artist's career and an interpretation of the artwork. Onscreen text provides additional information about the ...

Video

Rosalie Gascoigne: 'Suddenly the Lake', 1995

This resource includes an enlargeable image, with corresponding catalogue information, of the four-part series of assembled landscapes 'Suddenly the lake' by Rosalie Gascoigne. There is also a video with audio commentary providing an interpretation of the artwork. The corresponding onscreen text gives additional information ...

Video

John Olsen: 'Sydney sun', 1965

This resource includes an enlargeable image and corresponding catalogue information of the landscape painting 'Sydney sun' by John Olsen. There is also a video with audio commentary providing an interpretation of the artwork. The onscreen text outlines additional information about the artist, his career, influential ideas ...

Video

The Sydney Bird Painter: 'The white gallinule' c. 1791-92

Can you imagine what it would have been like to arrive in Australia and see its unique flora and fauna for the first time? Scientific drawings of Australia's flora and fauna emerged with the arrival of the first European settlers who were fascinated by how unusual they were. Sadly, even as they documented these extraordinary ...

Online

Through my own eyes: a self-portrait - teacher resource

This resource for teachers is a visual arts unit that leads to a resolved two-dimensional self-portrait on paper. The unit combines the techniques of drawing and painting and explores the concept of a personal environment. It is in four parts: exploring examples of portraits by artists across history; developing line-drawn ...