Sense of Place

A Sense of Place

Forward this curation of 5 selected artworks, were purposely picked due to the vast difference in their ability to represent a sense of place. Each work is a reflection of the Australian culture, beauty, community and how they make the composer feel connected to it. For thousands of years indigenous Australians have lived on this land having their ceremonies, traditions and created stories with their artworks. It is important to acknowledge the indigenous influence on Australian land and how they honoured this country. Through the curation of these 5 artworks it is hoped that the audience will reflect on the Australian landscape and how these 5 artists have successfully captured Australians essence.

Acknowledgment

We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land in which these artworks were created. We pay respect to elders past, present and emerging and celebrate their art and deep understanding of connection to country.

Photo

Photo by Kevin Zaouali

John Olsen, ‘Where the bee sucks, there suck I”

Highly acclaimed Australian artist John Olsen's work ‘where the bee sucks, there suck i’ uses oil paint to create an abstract painting capturing the natural Australian landscape, South Australia, and is a representation of John Olsen's life growing up in his country town. Olsen uses vivid colours to depict the vibrant environment of her childhood home. The bold colours and patterns evoke warm, domestic sensations. The figure at the top left of the artwork is connected to the main mass of the work, where you can see shapes of houses and trees, which supports the impression that Olsen has feelings of connection to the town. The middle of the painting features a giant red area with lines coming out of it linking the many animals, people, houses, and natural aspects of this work; this implies that Olsen values each of these aspects that present in his hometown equally. The title 'where the bee sucks, there suck I demonstrates how Olson sees himself as equal to the natural surroundings and how he feels connected to it. Using abstract shapes and patterns, the detailed line work conveys the feelings and connections that reveal the link of people, location, land, and the value to his homeland.

Photo

Mandy martin, ‘Brown Coal to Oil Site”

Mandy Martin, an Australian born artist has captured the stark contrast between natural and urban landscapes in her work ‘Brown Coal to Oil Site’. Martin has used the manmade and natural elements of this piece to show the significance of these elements in Australian society. Martin has used exaggerated colours in this piece to show the artificial buildings, she does this to be a representation of how man made buildings don't belong in the natural landscape. The title of Martin's work is a direct relation to the contrast she is trying to depict in her work, the natural versus man-made worlds. Martin successfully uses harsh highlights and shadows to make her work feel surreal; this technique makes the viewer feel as though the man made elements are unnatural in this environment. The forms of the clouds as well as the buildings in the background have a chaotic form and line work giving the audience an uneasy feeling. Mandy Martin has successfully conveyed a sense of place in her artwork using contrast, colour, line work an tone.

Photo by Kevin

Elizabeth Cummings, ‘Edge of the Simpson”

Abstract Australian artist Elisabeth Cummings has captured the image of the Simpson desert in her iconic artwork ‘Edge of the Simpson’. This highly saturated painting is a depiction of the Simpson desert, showing the tone and mood this desert brings people. Cummings has used vibrant colours in block shapes to represent the simplicity of the desert and the positive feelings you get whilst there. Cummings has used the warm and earthy tones to capture the environment of the desert. The vast difference in colours, forms and lines is a representation of the chaotic nature that the Simpson desert is, and how Cummings felt whilst she visited this place. The transition in colours of the foreground to the background concur with the title of this piece. Half of the painting has lighter natural tones with spots of dark reds, whild the background is filled with yellows and has more elements in the work. Cummings has successfully shown a depiction or the Simpson desert and the looks, environment and feelings of the desert, by using line work, colour and shapes.

Photo by Kevin Zaouali

Bronwyn Bancroft, ‘My Woman, My Country”

Aboriginal artist and fashion designer Bronwyn Bancroft uses abstract along with traditional aboriginal painting techniques to show her relationship between body and place, in her work ‘my woman, my country.’’ This work has a main figure in the middle of the work that has multiple arms along with a second figure coming out of the body, it has patterns covering all of the body. Bancroft successfully explores her connection to the country using the arms reaching off the screen to be a representation of her being a part of her environment. The body has multiple figures within its patterns showing how indigenous people feel as though they are a part of the land. Throughout the patterns on the body there are shapes that are a depiction of the natural environment, her connectedness and how Bancroft feels as though the natural landscape is a part of who she is. The background of the piece has cool colours along with organic patterns and shapes, symbolizing the calm nature of which she calls home. Bancroft successfully uses this abstract form to show her deep connection to country.

Photo by Kevin

Sidney Nolen, ‘Central Australia”

Australian artist Sidney Nolan's work ‘Central Australia’ has used colour and land forms to represent the rocky central Australia. The red ochre of the desert in Central Australia provides a striking colour change from much of the Australian landscape painting which had preceded it. The rich reds of the soil and lunar-like craggy outcrops must have been quite a contrast for people who live in urban areas of Australia. Nolan has created this realistic piece to highlight the stark difference in between the different Australian landscapes. This work was painted during the 1950s and he was one of the first non indigenous people to attempt an Australian landscape such as this; this was important at this time because many white people who lived in Australia had never seen this part. Nolen has shown the true beauty of many people's homes whilst capturing the sensations of central Australia.

ConclusionThroughout the construction of the composer's pieces, the audience is able to have a feel of each place and the sensations and unique connection each artist had with the different locations. Each artwork successfully gives the audience a journey of the connection between place and artist.