Anglo-Aussie Cultural Icons
If you're looking into (Anglo) 'Australian' culture as inspiration for your Body of work, think about the themes that pervade Australian culture from the C19th onward:
You might also look into colourful aussie slang or icons such as flags and road signs, which have become dominant representations of Australia overseas. A quick google search will reveal thousands of humourous adaptations of these icons (eg the sign on the left). |
Commercial Artists who celebrate "Aussie" culture
This was an especially big hing in the 1980s with artists like Ken Donne and Jenny Kee whose bright tropical colours and naive designs and even quotes from famous Australian poems sold widely in both Australia and overseas.
You might also want to look at other types of commercial artists and designers, such as Florence Broadhurst whose wallpapers had an enormous influence on interior design. The Guardian has an article about Australian artists who use birds in their designs.
You might also want to look at other types of commercial artists and designers, such as Florence Broadhurst whose wallpapers had an enormous influence on interior design. The Guardian has an article about Australian artists who use birds in their designs.
Classic Australian characters from children's books
There are loads of classic authors and illustrators who took their inspiration from the Australian landscape. Be aware that some of these authors used terrible racist portrays of Aboriginal and/or asian characters, which are ripe for critique and reinterpretation.
Many of these books (especially, the Magic Pudding, satirise different kinds of Australian stereotypes - similar to the TV show, Kath and Kim.
How many of these characters can you name?
- May Gibbs - Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie
- Norman Lindsey - The Magic Pudding
- Ruth Park - the Muddle Headed Wombat
- Dorothy Wall - Complete Adventures of Blinky Bill
- Ethel C Pedley - Dot and the Kangaroo
- Ida Outhwaite- very European fairy stories with slightly Australian settings
Many of these books (especially, the Magic Pudding, satirise different kinds of Australian stereotypes - similar to the TV show, Kath and Kim.
How many of these characters can you name?
from (White) Australian Art History
The images above are from a group of artists call the Australian Impressionists who were instrumental in defining many aspects of (Anglo) Australian identity. they were interesting in the special quality of light and the way this characterised the Australian bush, but heir paintings also reflect powerful attitudes about our relationship with the Australian landscape. For instance, Arthur Streeton paints idyllic pastoral scenes in a British/European tradition His what thou amongst he leaves hath never known references romantic poetry and renaissance paintings in an Australian landscape, a very different style to his war paintings), Frederick McCubbins's The Lost Child evokes the vast prison-like aspect of the bush as a trap for European settlers, and Tom Roberts' Shearing the Rams glorifies the Australian 'working man' and the vast sheep stations that created Australia's wealth at that time (have a look at the many parodies). Joan Sutherland, a friend of Mc Cubbin's painted both pseudo-European portraits like Daydream as well as domestic scenes (such as) that show ways that Europeans 'tamed' the bush. these were also themes in Clara Sourthern's paintings, but in this case the use of colour and textual brush strokes often create a slightly ominous overlay to the idyllic beauty.
PS: If you're interested in this type of art, the NSW Gallery currently has a Sreeton retrospective (ie a show of his art that represents works from different periods of his life)which just opened. You can even book a place at a lecture about his work.
PS: If you're interested in this type of art, the NSW Gallery currently has a Sreeton retrospective (ie a show of his art that represents works from different periods of his life)which just opened. You can even book a place at a lecture about his work.
Charles Meere's work reflects many Australian stereotypes, including beach culture (above)
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Sidney Nolan is most famous for his Ned Kelly paintings, but he also made paintings that comment on drought, war and, above, all the (White) Australian relationship with the vast desert landscape.
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David Boyd's work ranges from children frolicking in expressionistic landscapes to semi-abstract drawing and nightmarish depictions of the horrific violence done to Tasmanian aborigines - specifically the Iconic 'last Tasmanian', Truganini.
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Appropriation and Satire
Tall tales and satire as a strong part of Australian culture. They go right back to the C19th political (frequently very racist and sexist) cartoons of The Bulletin, a magazine that was highly influential in defining (White) Australian identity and can still be seen in Australian culture today from fine arts to film, music and stand up comedy.
Helen S Tiernan creates huge tactile artworks that challenge colonial images of Australia. she references the images of past artists, especially those working at beginning of colonisation, as well as Aboriginal stories and traditions.
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Reg Mombassa is an iconoclast who references both classical (esp biblical) imagery and Australian iconography. His work satirises religion, politics and cultural icons such as pies and beer at the footie.
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Michael Leunig is one of Australia's most successful cartoonists. Type in just about any issue " + Leunig" and you'll find a wide range of images that lampoon Australian culture (especially the racist, sexist and homophobic bits).
If you're looking for how to reflect on cartoons, read this essay by Noel Gough which incorporates many cartoons about the Australian relationship with the environment. |
Vintage advertising
If you're using pastiche or collage, you might want to think about using vintage advertising material. The obvious candidates Aeroplane jelly and Vegemite, but you could also think about Bushell's tea, Rosella tomato sauce, Milo, Daffodil Margarine, Arnott's biscuits, any Australian beer or even Holden cars.
These icons are so well known that they are referenced in the pop song "Do you come a land down under?" which depicts world travelling hippies playing up to 1950s stereotypes of Australia (lyrics here) - the parody seems to have been lost on non-Australians!
These icons are so well known that they are referenced in the pop song "Do you come a land down under?" which depicts world travelling hippies playing up to 1950s stereotypes of Australia (lyrics here) - the parody seems to have been lost on non-Australians!