The Uniqueness of Australian Artwork: Exploring Artists' Perceptions

Australian artists provide a unique way of displaying the Australian landscape. John Olsen is one of these artists, who uses symbolism to create a sense of movement. This is conveyed through his spontaneous linear line work as seen in Onkaparinga Hill, blue wren and fox and The flood – towards Lake Eyre. On the other hand, artists such as Arthur Boyd, use bold and vast colours to convey the strong Australian landscape as seen in Shoalhaven reflections and Pink Shoalhaven Landscape. Furthermore, Arthur Streeton’s work has a particular vision of blue skies and golden land. His overall famarility of Australian landscapes is evident within his broad-brush strokes. His paintings are a reflection of an overall mood of optimism and nationalistic spirit as seen in Fires on and Blue and Gold. These three artists, despite their different perspectives, all show aspects that all artworks are unique and can be seen through a different perception.

Streeton, is one of many Heidelberg School artists. He was influenced by the European idea of Plein Air Painting. They used European techniques of impressionism, which would symbolise different aspects of the Australian landscape. Another theme within their art works was the light and the atmosphere, which in turn formed almost a romantic poetic painting. Streeton first started painting in 1867 until 1943. In his early life he showed a great interest in sketching. He also saw the need to over exaggerate the tonal values of the painting in order to achieve the translation of the painting. His work can be seen through the cultural frame. This is shown in his works as he expresses the theme of time and place, showing the audience about current events around him. Fires on is one of Streeton’s works that uses his familiarity of the landscapes to create broad brush strokes, using symbolism of the lines and surroundings to express the view of unique communication. Streeton’s artworks clearly represent an important time in history and are a representation of the Heidelberg School. The image shows a series of rocks and a tunnel where people are walking through, which is a representation of mining. The landscape and how the rocks are placed also brings attention to the miners at the bottom of the painting. This is because the rocks create vector lines which brings your eyes to the bottom of the painting. The use of broad-brush strokes and fading colours and sharp line work, creates a sense of fragility. He continues a sense of the different relationships between the Australian bush and the people who were there. Within this painting, there is a hushed feeling of heroism which is evident from the overall construction of the site. Blue and gold also express similar techniques to Fires on in which he uses his own knowledge and overall familiarity of the landscape which symbolises the landscape in which he is surrounded by. This image shows his recurring theme of gold rocks, blue skies and light. The use of lines, creating shapes and fading colours, gives a sense of peacefulness. Streeton displays a relationship between himself and the landscape and the people that live there. In these works, Streeton uses painting techniques to create an idea of communications to all generations. Therefore, Streeton’s work Fires on and Blue and gold is evident to uphold the overriding theme of unique communication through Australian landscapes.

On the other hand, Arthur Boyd uses strong and vast colours in order to convey the Australian Landscape. Boyd first started painting in 1920 and finished before his death in1999. His work focuses on the goal to have a personal connection to the painting as shown in the method of using his hands to paint so that the story he wants to communicate is achieved. This can be seen through his artworks Shoalhaven reflections and Pink Shoalhaven Landscape. Boyd’s work Pink Shoalhaven landscape is one of his works that uses painting techniques to express the concept of unique communication. Boyd’s inspiration of his work was clearly affected through his experiences and the world events happening around him. His work can be seen through the subjective frame as evident with his use of personal connections with the landscape, showing the audience that he wants us to think about what is happening within the painting. The image shows a lake, a cliff in the background, fallen down trees, huge boulders and two birds in the background. The use of thin curved lines, sharp outlines and bold colours creates a sense of fragility which communicates the story that he wants to tell. The dark waters provide a perfect contrast between the river and the white gums. Shoalhaven Reflections also expresses similar views and techniques to Pink Shoalhaven Landscape. This image also shows the recurring theme of vast bright colours, trees and cliffs. The use of his vivid colours creates a sense of peacefulness through the techniques and methods that he uses. Therefore, Boyd’s work Shoalhaven Reflections and Pink Shoalhaven Landscape is evident to uphold the theme of unique communication with Australian landscapes.

Furthermore, John Olsen is an artist who uses symbolism to create a sense of movement this is conveyed through his spontaneous linear line work. Olsen first started painting in 1928. His works mainly focuses on the influence of Chinese calligraphy in which he allows the line to capture the directness of his experience which then leads the audience on a journey. This can be seen through his works Onkaparinga hill, blue wren and fox and The Flood – towards lake Eyre. Olsen’s work Onkaparinga hill, blue wren and fox is one work that uses linear line work in order to create a sense of an experience. Olsen was clearly influenced by two particular artists that he looked up to for inspiration. Jean Dubuffet’s spontaneous style and line reduction; and Paul Klee use of colour. His work can be seen through the subjective, structural and cultural frames. Although his artworks can be expressed through these frames, the one that most represented his works is the cultural frame. This is evident as he uses symbolism and spontaneous line work, to create a sense of art movement. The image shows a view of a mountain with trees merged within the lines of the mountain. The use of curved, spontaneous lines allows the audience to understand that Olsen wanted to create the feeling of going on a journey. The Flood – towards lake Eyre also uses similar techniques to his painting Onkaparinga hill, blue wren and fox in which he uses line work to capture a story. This image shows bare land, with vector lines coming from the corner, drawing your eyes into the water. This image allows the audience to understand that the land and the water are connected to one another. In both of these paintings Olsen continues to display the value of spontaneous line work and how it effects the audiences. Thus, he is able to uniquely communicate his ideas to the audience about the particular landscape he is painting.

In conclusion, it is evident that all these artists uphold the theme of unique communication seen through the imaginative interpretation of the Australian landscapes.

Bibliography

• Olsen gallery, na, Olsen gallery, viewed on the 14th June 2020
• Mantra hotels, 2020, Dr John Olsen, viewed on the 14th of june 2020 
• The Sydney morning herald, R.B. September 2016, john Olsen retrospective: mildly entertaining at best, 15th of June 2020 
• The Sydney morning herald, A.B. January 2019, Man of sorrows: Arthur boyd’s landscapes of the soul, 15th of june 2020 
• ABC News, na. Nov 2018, Arthur boyd landscape paintings are the focus of a major retrospective touring nationality, 14th of june 2020