skip to main |
skip to sidebar
National Portrait Gallery
I enjoyed going to the portrait gallery. There were quite a few portraits I liked, but ended up choosing these two...
Michael Hutchence by Harry Borden
Gelatin silver photograph - 1997
As soon as I saw this portrait I immediately liked it. His clothing, sunglasses and cigarette in hand scream rocker (well that’s kind of obvious I guess..) His pose and facial expression appears natural. I like the depth of field used to make him and the building in focus, while the rest of the photograph is out of focus. The street below looks crowded and rushed, while he looks at ease.
Image - http://www.portrait.gov.au/exhibit/dof/7.htm
Vali Myers by Eva Collins
Type C Print – 2001
The first thing that caught my eye about this portrait is Vali’s vibrant wild red hair. And then the tattoos that decorate not only her hands but also her face. Her clothing and chunky costume looking jewellery give her a free spirited gypsy feel. Her eyes are bright and piercing, surrounded by heavy makeup. To me she looks like a person who has lived and has a lot to tell.
Image - http://www.portrait.gov.au/site/collection_info.php?searchtype=advanced&searchstring=:::::&irn=725
National Archives of Australia
At the archives I found the following:
Inquiry Records from 1928, compiled by J W Bleakley. The records give an insight to the status and conditions of Aboriginal people in central and northern Australia during this time. They include photos of farmland, the sparse outback, homesteads and gum trees in the dry dusty summer. All things which represent the authenticity of the Australian land.
Photograph album from 1919. The album documents vocational training classes for those who had returned from war, along with the widows of those who tragically did not return.
The vocational classes included plastering, building and bricklaying. This shows how much Australians stick together during times of hardship, and how valued we are to our country.
Okay so this is a bit late – but once again having Internet troubles. Yay for technology :)
Anyways here are two artworks I chose from the gallery and the assignment from our visit to the War Memorial.
National Gallery of Australia
Artist: James Gleeson
Title: The attitude of lightning towards a lady mountain
Date: 1939
Dada and Surrealism
This work was created using oil on canvas. The first thing that stood out to me when I saw the artwork was the pink coloured objects against the blue green background. Their texture reminds me of coral, while the shapes appear to be a human body and torso. I like how they appear jagged and rough, while the background is simply soft.
Image - http://nga.gov.au/Gleeson/
Artist: Mike Parr and John Loane
Title: Polish Mud
Date: 1995
Australian Contemporary
I like the rough looking technique used in creating this piece. It has a feeling of sadness, confusion and struggle. Each of the 12 parts to this piece has a face, and each represent these feelings.
Australian War Memorial
Throughout the war was time of great technological change. Photographs taken during World War 1 were black and white and would tend to appear blunt, blurry and marked. As time and technology progressed, photography moved into colour and there were a lot more action shots being taken. Video footage also came on the scene, with video cameras being attached to missiles as to view the actual bombing.
A photograph I came across from WW1 showed a group of exhausted soldiers taking roll-call after battle. They are shown shielded in a trench, with the terrain in the background completely war torn. The trees are shredded and the earth upturned. The soldiers lean their weary bodies against the trench wall, with looks on their faces showing not only their fatigue, but also concern.
Fashion during wartime changed over time, as well as country to country. A uniform would denote distinction as to rank and culture. Materials and style would contribute to form and function. For example, summer uniforms would be made from light material such as an earthy canvas to keep cool, while a winter uniform would consist of a heavier material that would have had a lining such as wool for warmth and resistance to water. Lycra was also used as it would allow easy movement but still provide a certain degree of warmth.
A tight fitting uniform would contribute to an authorative and intimidating figure. Some uniforms were more for show instead of for function. More practical uniforms had ammunition webbing and belts situated higher than normal to allow better movement (e.g. for crouching and crawling). Helmets varied from different cultures, with Australian helmets appearing very basic compared to the more convenient helmets used by the Germans. Their helmets had a strap to prevent losing the helmet, and it also went over the ears adding to the protection.
When parachutes came into use they were created to allow movement when jumping out of the plane. Machine guns were developed in a way so they were able to be used upon departure from the plane instead of having to drop the guns to the ground separately, leaving the soldiers unarmed.
