THE Antipodean Manifesto exhibition presenting a visionary dialogue of art, identity and culture in 1950s Australia will be on show in Wanneroo until May 3.
The exhibition features a selection of representational paintings, prints and ceramics
by the seven artists who formed the Antipodean group in Melbourne in 1959 – Charles
Blackman, Arthur Boyd, David Boyd, John Brack, Robert Dickerson, John Perceval,
and Clifton Pugh.
Wanneroo Mayor Linda Aitken said it was an honour to showcase another chapter of
Australia’s art history at the Wanneroo Regional Gallery.
“The Antipodean Manifesto is a beautiful selection of figurative art that takes you on a
journey through the social and political context of 1950s Australia,” she said.
“We’re proud to add this to our exciting roster of exhibitions, offering visitors the chance
to connect with different cultures and stories.
The Antipodean Manifesto features a catalogue of works that express a longing to
preserve figurative art and its image, while redefining boundaries in contemporary
art.
Drawn from the state art collection, the exhibition is curated by the Art Gallery of
Western Australia historical art associate curator Emma Bitmead.
Ms Bitmead said she curated the exhibition to tell the story of how the Antipodean
group of postwar artists came together.
“Many of these artists served in the war, so a lot of the themes relate to loss and
their understanding of humanity and society during that time,” she said.
“The artwork is figurative, and in some instances portraits, but at the same time,
there’s quite an emotional and expressive component.
“It was very experimental at the time, so there’s definitely a heaviness in the imagery
of the exhibition, but also playfulness as well.
“I think people could relate to it on a lot of different levels.”
