Australia is a young, modern country made up of a diverse and multicultural population, therefore, it’s difficult to say that it has a single national identity. This essay will examine what Australia’s identity may look like, specifically, through art.
Australia has only been here for little over 200 years whereas other countries have a lot of history with solid identities. Australian art is an important factor that helps to create its identity because its artists are passionate about the unique aspects and symbols of Australia and they incorporate them into their works to really show what they think Australia is.
Australian Impressionism is a good place to start to reflect on the early influences in Australian art. In the late 19th and
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In the early 20th century Charles Meere used art to depict Australia’s beaches as an idyllic place where the average Aussie would spend their free time. These works were during a time when Australian Immigration had a white policy and this was reflected in his subjects being tanned, physically strong, dominant male bodies alongside perfectly shaped young women and carefree children. Meere’s ‘Australian Beach Pattern’ is a symbol of the ideal Australian and promotes it to be typical of Australia’s identity of this era, however, fast forward 49 years to Anne Zahalka’s 1989 ‘The Bathers’ from the Bondi series, ‘Playground of the Pacific’, where she recreates Meere’s iconic painting and compare the characteristics of the Australian people from this timeframe. This photograph highlights how Australia’s culture has evolved while still embracing the importance of the beach to family …show more content…
Ned Kelly is considered to be a folk hero and is remembered as one of Australia’s most significant people because he stood up to corrupt police officers, unfair laws and biased government. Kelly is immortalized in Sidney Nolan’s ‘Ned Kelly’ collection of 27 paintings that re-count his daring exploits with the law. Nolan was sympathetic to this story as he, himself, was a fugitive from the law and, using various Australian landscape scenes as a backdrop, transcended his own conflict onto the canvas to make the series a success. Sidney Nolan, Glenrowan, 1946 Sidney Nolan, Ned Kelly, 1946
The land has a lot to do with Australia, the way that its identity may have developed might be through its isolation and our slow understanding and respect for it. Landscape pieces by other artists at this time depict the land in a much different light than Nolan. Lawson’s ‘The Drover’s Wife’ has a woman dressed in dull clothing, standing alone, highlighting her isolation in the Australian outback. Whereas Preston’s abstract landscape ‘Flying Over The Shoalhaven River’ depicts the land to be an inviting and welcoming place. Henry Lawson, The Drover’s Wife, 1945 Margaret Preston, Flying Over The Shoalhaven River,
Through the use of poetic devices, the author has successfully encouraged the audience to explore their thoughts on Australian identity and to reflect on our nation’s history.
The concepts of national identity is demonstrated through Felicity Castagna’s novel, ‘No More Boats’ as it conveys Antonio’s national identity as well as through Henry Lawson’s short story, ‘The Drover’s Wife”, as it depicts the concept of national identity in Australia through the Australian bush life. Fiona Allon’s novel, ‘Renovation Nation’, portrays the concepts of national identity through the context of migrant home construction in Australia. Throughout Felicity Castagna’s novel, ‘No More Boats’, it depicts the concept of national identity in Australia. Furthermore, through the quote, “white aluminium siding, aluminium eight-over-eights, yellow fibreboard shutters, high rectangular windows, crisp brown linoleum marking the path to the kitchen.
In “Untitled (dismay, displace disperse…)” six 30x30cm oil paintings individually detail a certain negative aspect of colonialism in a chronological fashion. “DISMAY” shows how the Aboriginal people are disregarded as human beings, the second image “DISPLACE” while accompanied by an image of British settlers setting down a flag comments on the British taking control, “DISPERSE” comments on how Indigenous people were moved out of their homes to make way from British development, “DISPIRIT” comments on how the continuation of settlement and lack of support for Aborigines left them to give up and lose motivation, “DISPLAY” comments on how Indigenous people were treated as animals and some were sold for entertainment purposes and finally “DISMISS” accompanied with a black image concludes this work by commenting on how British people have achieved their goal of settlement and as a result has had a detrimental impact on the well-being and culture of the Indigenous people. In “Possession Island” Bennett appropriates Samuel Calvert’s “Captain Cook taking possession of the Australian continent on behalf of the British Crown AD 1770” and comments on the chaos of colonialism and disregard for Indigenous people. He layers the painting with slashes and dots of red and yellow paint but leaves a central black skinned figure
The identity of Australia as a place comes from both its physical features and the atmosphere, which is often created by its physical appearance. Three artists who have depicted the Australian landscape in different styles are Arthur Streeton, John Olsen and Sally Morgan. Streeton’s works are in a realistic but lively style typical of the Heidelberg school. He was intent on recreating the light and warmth of the land. Olsen and Morgan’s works, on the other hand, offer more abstract interpretations of the land. During the 1960s and 1970s, Olsen captured the essence and the energy of the landscape with his bold and bright brushwork whilst Morgan’s work from the 1980s portrays Australia from an indigenous perspective, which she achieves through her use of Aboriginal symbolism and cultural imagery.
Australia’s national and cultural icons range from natural landmarks to man-made wonders. They are instantly recognisable, have special significance and are uniquely Australian. (1) Two Australian artist’s that created cultural iconic images through their artworks, were Sydney Nolan and Russell Drysdale. During the 1940s cultural, social changes and the Second World War influenced them to depict issues in their works. Both artists were affected by the war, had an interest in the bush, its people and the harsh drought at the time. This encouraged them to reflect on national themes which they personally could associate and identify with. Their
The Australian Identity by Isaiah Ainsley The typical Australian can be defined as muscular, tall and athletic, worldwide we are still seen as what we were in the 1800’s. That stereotype of let’s say Crocodile Dundee with the corkscrew hats living out in the bush is what we are seen as to anyone outside of Australia. Currently, the nation’s stereotype is dilute, where hegemonic, protest and alternative masculinities are interchangeable. Throughout multiple examples the idea of the stereotypical Australian being hegemonic is supported. Hegemonic society consists of patriarchy and homophobia.
As curator I wish to recommend the inclusion of artworks by Danie Mellor and Cia Guo-Qiang for the upcoming exhibition “Utopian Australia – the Lucky Country?”.
Australia’s Aboriginal Peoples form the longest living culture in the world, they have experienced massive conflicts and suffered many losses. Tjukurpa Kunpa, means ‘Strong Law & Culture,’ and forms part of a collection of paintings that concentrate on political and cultural issues that have resulted from colonisation. The painting outlines the shape of Australia and is decorated with symbols and writings that hold significant meaning to Aboriginal cultures.
The poem I Was the Son of an Englishman by Komninos from the contemporary era actively and effectively portrays the changing nature of Australian culture and society, as it illustrates the diversity in the new Australian identity. After the Second World War, Australia changed in many ways and the new settlers began to make significant contributions to the Australian culture and identity. Poets from the contemporary era began to reflect modern Australia, as the rise of multiculturalism started to contribute to our new ideas, attitudes, values and beliefs about Australian identity. Komninos’ language can be seen in stanza three where it says “if I was the son of an Englishman, i’d really be true blue...i could desecrate the countryside, and destroy
Within the visuals associated with Smith’s article lots of different people of all different races, dressed in Australian colours are collaged together to form the shape of Australia. This adds to the appeal to patriotism as it shows that all Australian’s no matter their race, gender, age, social status etc. have a right to celebrate on Australia Day in their own ways. This coincides with Smith’s contention being that Australia has such a diverse and multi-cultural background that everyone has the right to enjoy Australia Day. Such technique positions the reader to feel proud of the “unity” and togetherness their country has in celebrating Australia Day.
Students will create a juxtaposed artwork representing the past of Aboriginal culture and the future according to Paul Keating’s speech. The material used will be ones from the nature such as sticks and leaves to create a depiction of Aboriginal history. The artwork will tell two stories one being the discrimination against Aboriginals and the other being a better future for them. Using earthy colours, natural materials and techniques used by Aboriginals student will create a beautiful artwork explain the Indigenous Australians past and future. • Drama activity-
However, I did not experience this struggle for national identity. It seemed that many Australians have a very strong sense of national identity and national pride. In fact, many view themselves as separate from neighboring Asia and separate from ancestral Europe. Many felt a strong connection to the land, excited by the dangerous and seemingly untouched terrain. Overall, National identity did not appear to be a problem for any Australians during my visit.
Australia is known internationally for Kangaroos, cork hats, and a pair of thongs. Australians themselves are known as easy going, relaxed sports fans, who seem to have our own style of doing things.
Many Australians pride themselves on our quirky animals or the unusual aspects of our culture, or even our country’s relatively stable financial situation compared to most other countries. However, many Australians fail to see how Australia is sacrificing this natural beauty, internationally recognisable icons and unique culture, all for the sake and profits of development. These images reflect on the vulnerability of Australia’s culture, icons and healthy ecosystems and challenge the tourism/‘perfect Australia’ stereotype that makes Australia seem ecologically, economically and socially stable. Three aesthetic features that demonstrate this are colour, positioning and symbols. The need for a national shift in economical power and an intuitive
Australia in the late 20th century, was an important period when intelligentsia were seeking to define its nation and its national identity. One powerful communicator was in the writings and articles published in popular newspapers, which offered differing ideas and approaches on this subject. In this essay I aim to analyse two documents in the form of ballads that were published in this period, and to describe how they played a part in constructing an image that could be used to define the nation and create a national identity; in their historical, social, economic and political context.