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� Sidney Nolan: the Gallipoli seriesEducationResource
Sidn
ey N
olan
: the
Gal
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ies
� Sidney Nolan: the Gallipoli seriesEducationResource
Coverimage:SidneyNOLAN,Head of Gallipoli soldier saluting(detail),�977syntheticpolymerpaintonhardboard,��5x95cm,ART9�435
Acknowledgements EducationBriefingNotesadaptedbytheAnne&GordonSamstagMuseumofArtfromtheAustralianWarMemorialBriefingNotes.
PublishedbytheAnne&GordonSamstagMuseumofArtUniversityofSouthAustraliaGPOBox�47�AdelaideSA500�T 08830�0870E samstagmuseum@unisa.edu.auWunisa.edu.au/samstagmuseum
Copyright©theAustralianWarMemorialandUniversityofSouthAustralia
Allrightsreserved.ThepublishergrantspermissionforthisEducationResourcetobereproducedand/orstoredfortwelvemonthsinaretrievalsystem,transmittedbymeanselectronic,mechanical,photocopyingand/orrecordingonlyforeducationpurposesandstrictlyinrelationtotheexhibitionSidney Nolan: the Gallipoli seriesattheSamstagMuseumofArt.
ISBN978-0-9807�75-�-5
SamstagMuseumofArtDirector:EricaGreen
GraphicDesign:SandraElmsDesign
� Sidney Nolan: the Gallipoli seriesEducationResource
Contents AboutSidney Nolan: the Gallipoli series 4
Abouttheartist–SidneyNolan(�9�7–�99�) 9
Framingquestionsandfurtherresearch �0
AbouttheAustralianWarMemorial �0
Acknowledgements ��
3 Sidney Nolan: the Gallipoli seriesEducationResource
About this Education Resource ThisEducationResourceispublishedtoaccompanytheAustralianWarMemorialTravellingExhibition
Sidney Nolan: the Gallipoli series�0April–�June�0��Anne&GordonSamstagMuseumofArtBestecGallery�andGallery3
TheseEducationBriefingNotesaredesignedtosupportlearningoutcomesandteachingprogramsassociatedwithviewingtheexhibitionSidney Nolan: the Gallipoli seriesby:
n Providinginformationabouttheartist
n Exploringexhibitionthemes
n Challengingstudentstoengagewiththeworksandtheexhibition’sthemes
n Identifyingwaysinwhichtheexhibitioncanbeusedasacurriculumresource
n Providingstrategiesforexhibitionviewing,aswellaspre-andpost-visitresearch
Itmaybeusedinconjunctionwithavisittotheexhibitionorasapre-visitorpost-visitresource.
Year level ThisResourceisprimarilydesignedtobeusedbysecondarytoseniorsecondaryvisualartteachersandstudents.Componentscanbeadaptedforusebyupperprimaryandtertiarystudents.
Education briefing notes
Sidney Nolan: the Gallipoli series An Australian War Memorial Travelling Exhibition
4 Sidney Nolan: the Gallipoli seriesEducationResource
SirSidneyNolan(�9�7–�99�)wasoneofAustralia’smostcomplex,innovative,andprolificartists.HeisbestknownfortheiconicpaintingsfromhisNed Kelly,Burke and Wills,Mrs Fraser,Leda and the Swan,andtheDesert and Droughtseries.Ofequalimportance,butlesswellknown,ishisremarkableGallipoliseries.
In�978hepresentedtheGallipoliseriestotheAustralianWarMemorial.These�5�drawingsandpaintings,completedovera�0-yearperiod,weredonatedinmemoryofhisbrotherRaymond,asoldierwhodiedinatragicaccidentjustbeforetheendoftheSecondWorldWar.GallipoliwasathemetowhichNolanconstantlyreturnedthroughouthisartisticcareer.
showcasesaselectionoftheseworks,whichconstitutebothapersonalandpubliclament,commemoratingnotjustthedeathofNolan’sbrotherbutacampaignthathadcostsomanyAustralianlives.NolanalsodrewinspirationfromthemythsandlegendsoftheTrojanWarsandhowAustralianhistoryandidentityareperceived.
SidneyNOLAN,Gallipoli riders,c�96�,textiledyeoncoatedpaper,5�.�x63.6cm,ART9�3�4
About Sidney Nolan: the Gallipoli series
5 Sidney Nolan: the Gallipoli seriesEducationResource
About the exhibition Theexhibitionincludestenpaintingsandseventyworksonpaper,whicharearrangedthematicallywithinaninterpretiveframework.TheexhibitionbeginsbyestablishingtheGallipoliserieswithinabroadercontextofNolan’soeuvre,andissupportedbybiographicalinformation.Ratherthanfollowastrictchronologicalorder,greateremphasishasbeengiventothefivethemeswhichtheGallipoliseriescanbedividedinto.Thesethemesare:
Origins In�955,inspiredbyhisreadingofRobertGraves’sThe Greek Myths,NolanmovedtotheGreekislandofHydratobeginworkonaseriesofpaintingsabouttheTrojanWar.TherehemetGeorgeJohnston,whoencouragedhimtoreadAlanMoorehead’sNew YorkerarticlewhichdiscussedthegeographicalproximityofGallipoliandTroyandthesimilaritiesbetweenthesetwofamouscampaigns.AroundthistimehealsobrieflyvisitedGallipoliandthesiteofancientTroy.
Battle Nolan’sreadingofclassicalGreekliterature,andMoorehead’sarticle,ledhimtoseetheAustraliansoldiersoftheFirstWorldWaras‘reincarnationsoftheancientTrojanheroesofmythicaltimes’.HispaintingsanddrawingsoftheAustraliansoldiersatGallipolirecalltheimagesofGreekheroes,whoareshownfightingnakedandwithouttheirarmouronvasesoftheclassicalperiod.Inspiredbythesepowerful,physicalfigures,Nolandepictsthemodernsoldierassomeonecaughtupinabloodyandviolentwar.
SidneyNOLAN,Gallipoli landscape with recumbent Greek figure,c�956,gouacheoncoatedpaper,�5.4x30.4cm,ART9���6
SidneyNOLAN,Gallipoli soldiers in action,c�96�,textiledyeoncoatedpaper,5�.�x63.8cm,ART9�385
6 Sidney Nolan: the Gallipoli seriesEducationResource
The landscape ThepaintingsinNolan’sGallipoliseriesdepictlandscapesthatareafusionofboththerealandtheimaginary.ThelandscapethatNolanwouldhaveseenwhenhevisitedGallipoliwasdominatedbyanimpenetrablegrowthofthornyshrubs,similartowhatvisitorscanseetoday.Thenandnow,thedryescarpmentsaboveANZACCovearemuchastheywerein�9�5,andfromChunukBair,theundulatingridgesandgulliesunfoldthemselves.ButNolan’slandscapesarealsopoeticevocations,alamentforaplacewheresomanyliveswerelost.
The sea AsenseoftheseapervadestheDardanellescampaign,whoseverygoalwastoseizecontrolofthestretchofwaterthatseparatedGallipoliandTroy.TheAustralianswhoclamberedashoreon�5April�9�5atwhatcametobeknownasANZACCovewouldsometimesreturntoswiminitswaters.Toescapethegrime,thefilthandtheverminofthetrenchestheywerewillingtobravetheTurkishshrapnelthatoccasionallyspatteredthebeach.
SidneyNOLAN,Drowned soldier at ANZAC as Icarus,�958,textiledye,sgraffito,colouredcrayononcoatedpaper,�5.4x30.4cm,ART9�309
SidneyNOLAN,Gallipoli landscape with large drowned figure in water and steep cliffs,c�96�,textiledye,waxoncoatedpaper,�5.4x30.4cm,ART9�30�
7 Sidney Nolan: the Gallipoli seriesEducationResource
Australian identity Nolan’sGallipoliportraitsrepresentanattempttodefinetheAustraliannationalcharacter.TheyprovidetimelessimagesoftheANZACs:theyoungandtheold,theinnocentandthewar-weary,thebushmanandthecity-dweller.Nolandescribedtheselaterworksandtheirevolution:‘Thefirstpaintingsareaveryyouthfulgenerationofsoldiers.Theythenbegintoabsorbthefatigue,theweariness,thesuffering,themassexperienceofwar.…Thereisoneinthelatersectionofayoungsoldier.Heisneitherdeadnoralive.Heiskindofstoppedbywar…’
SidneyNOLAN,Head of Gallipoli soldier,�977,syntheticpolymerpaintonhardboard,���.�x9�.4cm,ART9�445
8 Sidney Nolan: the Gallipoli seriesEducationResource
InstallationshotsofSidney Nolan: the Gallipoli seriescourtesyoftheAustralianWarMemorial
Some quick facts about the exhibition n ThecuratorsareLolaWilkins,HeadofArtattheMemorial,andLauraWebster,CuratorofArt.
n TheAustralianWarMemorialispleasedtopresentSidney Nolan: the Gallipoli series,anexhibitionofworksbasedonthe�9�5GallipolicampaignthatNolanbeganin�955.
n SidneyNolan’sGallipoliworkshavebecomeanimportantpartoftheAustralianWarMemorial’sartcollectionsincetheartistdonated�5�oftheseworksin�978.
n On�6April�977theMemorial’sChairmanLieutenantColonelThomasDalycontactedSidneyNolantoenquirewhetherhisGallipoliworkswereavailabletotheMemorial.WithindaysNolantelephonedtoinformtheMemorialhewaswillingtodonatetheGallipoliworksinhispossession.
n Nolandonated�5�worksfromtheGallipoliseriestotheAustralianWarMemorialinmemoryofhisyoungerbrotherRaymond,asoldierwhodiedinatragicaccidentinCooktownjustbeforetheendoftheSecondWorldWar.(SapperRaymondJNolanVX�46�79,�5SmallShipsCompany,RoyalAustralianEngineers;accidentallydrowned�0July�945atCooktown,Queensland(justbeforehis��stbirthday).AservingsoldiersaidRaymondwentoverboardfromanairsearescuelaunch(US)andbeingunabletoswimdrowned.
n TheMemorialdisplayedanumberoftheworksina�978exhibitionopenedbythenPrimeMinisterMalcolmFraser;theexhibitionthenwentontotourAustralia.
n Nolan’simagesofGallipoliofferadifferentperspectiveonanotherwisewellknowncampaign.Theyrepresentbothapersonalandpubliclament,commemoratingnotjustthedeathofNolan’sbrotherbutacampaignthathadcostsomanyAustralianlives.
n TheserieswasinspirednotonlybytheGallipolicampaignbutalsothemythsandlegendsoftheTrojanWar.Nolansawadirectlinkbetweenbothcampaigns,anddrewnotjustonthegeographicproximityofGallipoliandTroybutalsoonthesimilaritiesbetweentheGreekwarriorsandtheAustraliansoldiers.
9 Sidney Nolan: the Gallipoli seriesEducationResource
InformalportraitofartistSidneyNolanaged7�.AnAustralianpainter,draughtsman,printmakerandstagedesigner.
NolanremainsoneofAustralia’smostacclaimedandinternationallyrecognisedartists.Manyeventsandpeoplehelpedshapehisartisticjourney,butnonemorethantwoindependentlywealthyartpatrons,JohnandSundayReed.SundaywasparticularlyinstrumentalinencouragingNolantomoveawayfromabstractpaintingandcollagetowardsamorefigurativeart.
DuringhisSecondWorldWarmilitaryserviceinthewesterndistrictofVictoria,Nolanfoundthejobofloadingandunloadingstoresandprovisionstobemundaneandrepetitive.Heappliedtobeanofficialwarartist,butwasturneddownbecausehisworkswereconsideredtoomodern.Dejectedandbored,andunabletoobtainadischarge,NolantookoffforMelbourne,andwasdulydeclared‘illegallyabsent’.Upuntiltheendofthewar,hedividedhistimebetweenhissuburbanstudioandtheReeds’Heidelbergproperty.
In�953,NolanmovedwithhisfamilytoBritain.Hetravelledagreatdeal,andpaintedevenmore.AnextendedholidayontheislandofHydrabroughthimintocontactwithtwofamousAustralians–thenovelistGeorgeJohnstonandthehistorianandwriterAlanMoorehead–whoinspiredhimtoembarkonhisGallipoliseries.Forhiscontributionstoart,Nolanreceivedaknighthoodin�98�andtheOrderofMeritin�983;in�988hewasmadeCompanionoftheOrderofAustralia.
Throughouthislong,illustriouscareer,NolanworkedprolificallyinavarietyofmediaonthemesdrawnfromAustralianhistory,mythsandlegends.Herevivedelementsandiconographyfromearlierworks,butalsomaintainedaspontaneousandvigorousstylebycontinuingtoexplorenewmaterialsandpaintingtechniques.
About the artist – Sidney Nolan (1917–1992)
n NolanalsoexploredintheworkshowAustralianidentitywasinfluencedbytheGallipolistory,asubjectthathasbeenofincreasinginterestoflate.
n ThegenerousdonationoftheworksoftheGallipoliseriesbySidneyNolanbeganwhatwouldgrowintoacontinuingcommitmentonthepartoftheMemorialtocontemporaryartasbeingaviableexpressionofcommemorationandavaluablecontributortoourunderstandingofthesacrificesAustralianshavemadeintimesofwar.
TheMemorialisdelightedtobringthisexhibitiontotheAustralianpublicasmanyoftheworkshavenotbeenexhibitedforalmostthirtyyears.
�0 Sidney Nolan: the Gallipoli seriesEducationResource
n WhydoyouthinkNolandecidedtodonatehisGallipoliseriestotheAustralianWarMemorial’sartcollection?
n IdentifythemesintheSidney Nolan: the Gallipoli seriesexhibition.Canyoudescribehowthesethemesareevidentintheworksselectedforthisexhibition?
n Nolan’sreadingofRobertGraves’sThe Greek MythsledhimtoseetheAustraliansoldiersoftheFirstWorldWaras‘reincarnationsoftheancientTrojanheroesofmythicaltimes’.RefertotheworkGallipoli figures in BattleanddiscusshowhispaintingsanddrawingsdrewinspirationfromthemythsandlegendsoftheTrojanWars.
n ResearchtheGallipoliCampaignatANZACCoveandtheTrojanWaranddiscussthesimilaritiesbetweenthesetwofamousmilitarycampaigns.
n ANZACDayisanationaldayofremembranceinAustraliaandNewZealandandisoftenconsideredthebirthofnationalconsciousnessforbothofthesecountries.WhatdoesANZACstandforandwhyisthisdayspecialtoAustralians?
n ThepaintingsinNolan’sGallipoliseriesdepictlandscapesthatareafusionofboththeobservedandtheimaginedpast.Canartworkswhichreferencethepasthaveanythingtosayaboutthepresentandfuture?
n HowwouldyoudescribethemoodinNolan’sGallipolilandscapesdepictingwater?Canyouidentifythestrategiestheartisthasusedtocreatethismood?
n JustasNolan’sGallipoliportraitsrepresentanattempttodefinetheAustraliannationalcharacter,considerhowyoucouldexploreAustralianidentityinyourownwork.
About the Australian War Memorial n TheAustralianWarMemorialuniquelycombinesanationalshrinetothefallen(theheartofwhich
istheTomboftheUnknownAustralianSoldier),aworldclassmuseumandaresearchcentre.
n Locatedinthenation’scapital,Canberra,theAustralianWarMemorialtellsthestoryofAustralia’sexperienceinworldwars,regionalconflictsandinternationalpeacekeeping.Itcommemoratesthesacrificeofthe�0�,000AustralianmenandwomenwhodiedservingtheircountryandallthosewhohaveservedinthedefenceofAustralia’snationalinterests.
n TheAustralianWarMemorialisanoutstandingeducationalresourceandhasspecialappealtoyoungAustraliansandeducators.Australianhistorycomestolifewithpersonalconnectionstofamilystories.ThestoriestheMemorialtellsareverymuchthoseofAustraliainthe�0thcentury.
n TheAustralianWarMemorialisoneofAustralia’sgreatinstitutionsandiscurrentlyAustralia’smostvisitedmuseum.TheMemorialwasrecognisedasAustralia’sbestmajortouristattractionandwaspresentedwiththenationalawardin�000,�00�and�00�/03.ItwasalsoinductedintotheTourismAwardsHallofFame.
n In�007–�008theAustralianWarMemorialattractedoversixmillionvisitors(overfivemillionviathewebsiteandoveronemilliontotheMemorialitself).
n ThemainMemorialbuildinghousesanextensivecollectionofexhibitsdepictingtheAustralianexperienceofwar.Storiesfromallconflictsaretoldinavarietyofways:traditionaldisplays(e.g.relicsandlargetechnologyitemsarepresentedalongsidetheirstory);interpretivedisplays(e.g.specificbattlesarerecreatedthroughtheuseofdioramasandexperiencesareportrayedintheartworkspresented);orthroughtheuseofcutting-edge‘objecttheatre’ormultimediadisplays(e.g.‘Sydneyunderattack’,asoundandlightshow,tellsthestoryofthethreemidgetsubmarinesthatattemptedtoraidSydneyHarbourin�94�)
n Inrecentyearsithasundergoneacompleteredevelopmentwithover60percentofitsgalleriesrevitalised.Alargenewexhibitionspace,ANZACHall,wasaddedin�00�.ANZACHallprovidesastunningexhibitionoflargetechnologyitems,suchastheJapanesemidgetsubmarinethatenteredSydneyHarbourin�94�and‘GforGeorge’,theAustralianWarMemorial’sSecondWorldWarLancasterbomber.Strikingbynight,focusingaround‘GforGeorge’,istheMemorial’slargestandmostpopularexhibitandisthecentrepieceofamajorexhibitioninANZACHall.AnimpressivesoundandlightshowrealisticallydepictsanightoperationoverBerlininDecember�943.
Framing questions and further research
�� Sidney Nolan: the Gallipoli seriesEducationResource
n During�007theMemorialopenedthe‘Conflicts�945toToday’galleriesinitslatestredevelopment.‘Conflicts�945toToday’presentsthepowerfulstoriesofAustralianinvolvementinconflictsoverthelastsixdecades.KeyfeaturesofthisgalleryredevelopmentincludethebridgetakenfromHMASBrisbane,whichislinkedtotheMemorialbuildingbyawalkway,aswellastheinclusionofanumberofmultimediapresentations(e.g.‘TheDustoff’,‘ALetterHome’).
n In�008theMemorialopenedOver the front: the Great War in the air.ThisexhibitiontellsthestoryofmilitaryflightandaerialcombatduringtheFirstWorldWar.AnadditionalfiveaircraftfromtheMemorial’scollectionarebroughttolifewithanexcitingmultimediapresentationdirectedandproducedbyaward-winningfilmmakerPeterJackson.
Acknowledgements ItisimportanttoacknowledgeboththeAustralianGovernment’sCommemorationProgram;andtheVisionsofAustraliaprogramfortheirsupportoftheexhibition.
Australian Government’s Commemorative program TheAustralianWarMemorial’sTravellingExhibitionsprogramisfundedbytheAustralianGovernment’sCommemorativeprogram.AdditionalinformationisavailablefromtheDepartmentofVeterans’Affairsoffices,andontheDVAwebsiteatwww.dva.gov.au
Visions of Australia program Sidney Nolan: the Gallipoli seriesissupportedbyVisionsofAustralia,anAustralianGovernmentprogramsupportingtouringexhibitionsbyprovidingfundingassistanceforthedevelopmentandtouringofAustralianculturalmaterialacrossAustralia.
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