� Sidney Nolan: the Gallipoli seriesEducationResource

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� 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.