Art
April 23rd 2007 05:05
Category: Guides
Sydney has an impressive history of artists contributing to a vibrant scene, since the early colonial days to modern times, where Sydney artists are gaining worldwide renown for their contemporary work.
Truly, the first Sydney artists were the Aboriginal painters, whose work decorates many rock faces in and around the city. Their paintings were used to tell stories and mark territory, and now, the ancient remains draw impressive tourist crowds. Unfortunately, the existence of these works fades over time, as erosion chews away the rock. A resurgence of interest in Aboriginal Art has prompted the government to declare the ancient paintings as historical sites.
A notable figure in the early artistic movement in Sydney was Conrad Martens, an English watercolourist who worked as a draughtsman on the HMS Beagle, and would form a lasting friendship with Charles Darwin, pre-The Origin of Species. When he arrived in Sydney, he became the colonys most respected artist, and some of his watercolours sold for hefty prices and were sent back to England as visual proof of the savage land.
In 1835, he lived in a prominent studio on Cumberland Street, where, now, the Sydney Observatory sits, watching the harbour. He, along, with his contemporaries, formed a tight group of intellectual painters, living in what is now called Circular Quay and the Rocks.
Prior to World War I, Australian artists were gathering confidence in the idea of Australian patriotism, and the artwork at this time reflected this, showing modern event with pride. Grace Cossington Smith, another widely held artist, became famous throughout Australia with her memorable The Bridge in Curve, an optimistic painting of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the middle of its construction. In addition to painting the bridge, she loved to paint the rush of people in the city center, and would often paint busy passageways and sidewalks, attempting to capture the unbelievable activity in this city that was once a colony.
Sydney may indeed have an illustrious past, with regards to fine art, but in modern times, that history has fallen to the side. These days, it seems that Melbourne is overtaking Sydney as the cultural capital of Australia, at least in the eyes of Melburnians. The music scene is thriving in Victoria, and the Melbourne Comedy Festival is the worlds second most important comedy festival behind the Festival Juste Pour Rire de Montreal.
That being said, Sydney has a timeless elegance that can perhaps never be diminished, with the everlasting symbol of the Opera House keeping the citys place as the cultural peak of Australia. Many of the nations flagship production companies are located in Sydney: The Sydney Theatre Company and Opera Australia produce the majority of their work for the prominent city.
The Sydney Festival is a formidable example of the thriving arts scene in Sydney; this three-week festival showcases hundreds of events, from music concerts to dance recitals, showing at glamorous venues like the Opera House, to free shows at the Domain. For Sydneysiders, this is the ultimate summer festival, with huge international and local talent performing throughout Sydney.
Of course, who could mention Sydneys contribution to the arts without a nod to the Archibald Prize, Australias most acclaimed art award, given every year for the best portraiture. Given out by the trustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Archibald Prize has attracted notoriety and controversy, but has lost none of its acclaim. Currently valued at $35 000, its financial value makes it nearly a match as the publicity value. The presentation of the Archibald is said to be the only prize that gathers public attention, making it a yearly event in Sydney.
Its not an easy task to measure culture. Certainly, Melburnians would give themselves the title, and Sydneysiders would disagree. Even Adelaide has a claim to being a city of culture. Regardless, those seeking a cultural experience will not meet disappointment in Sydney theres just too many things going on here to ignore. Theres something clichéd about sitting near the Opera House, enjoying jazz and a glass of white wine, but Sydney transcends cliché, as visual culture never seemed so tantalizing in the Harbour City.
Aboriginal Art
A notable figure in the early artistic movement in Sydney was Conrad Martens, an English watercolourist who worked as a draughtsman on the HMS Beagle, and would form a lasting friendship with Charles Darwin, pre-The Origin of Species. When he arrived in Sydney, he became the colonys most respected artist, and some of his watercolours sold for hefty prices and were sent back to England as visual proof of the savage land.
HMS Beagle - Conrad Martens
Prior to World War I, Australian artists were gathering confidence in the idea of Australian patriotism, and the artwork at this time reflected this, showing modern event with pride. Grace Cossington Smith, another widely held artist, became famous throughout Australia with her memorable The Bridge in Curve, an optimistic painting of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the middle of its construction. In addition to painting the bridge, she loved to paint the rush of people in the city center, and would often paint busy passageways and sidewalks, attempting to capture the unbelievable activity in this city that was once a colony.
The Bridge in Curve - Grace Cossington Smith
That being said, Sydney has a timeless elegance that can perhaps never be diminished, with the everlasting symbol of the Opera House keeping the citys place as the cultural peak of Australia. Many of the nations flagship production companies are located in Sydney: The Sydney Theatre Company and Opera Australia produce the majority of their work for the prominent city.
The Sydney Festival is a formidable example of the thriving arts scene in Sydney; this three-week festival showcases hundreds of events, from music concerts to dance recitals, showing at glamorous venues like the Opera House, to free shows at the Domain. For Sydneysiders, this is the ultimate summer festival, with huge international and local talent performing throughout Sydney.
Of course, who could mention Sydneys contribution to the arts without a nod to the Archibald Prize, Australias most acclaimed art award, given every year for the best portraiture. Given out by the trustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Archibald Prize has attracted notoriety and controversy, but has lost none of its acclaim. Currently valued at $35 000, its financial value makes it nearly a match as the publicity value. The presentation of the Archibald is said to be the only prize that gathers public attention, making it a yearly event in Sydney.
Its not an easy task to measure culture. Certainly, Melburnians would give themselves the title, and Sydneysiders would disagree. Even Adelaide has a claim to being a city of culture. Regardless, those seeking a cultural experience will not meet disappointment in Sydney theres just too many things going on here to ignore. Theres something clichéd about sitting near the Opera House, enjoying jazz and a glass of white wine, but Sydney transcends cliché, as visual culture never seemed so tantalizing in the Harbour City.
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