The
Art of Dreams
The Art Gallery of New South
Wales presented an awe inspiring exhibition which follows the Symbolist
movement through Australian Art. The exhibition established the significance of
this movement in Australia with a diversity of artistic responses through
themes and ideas that connect with the Art Nouveu tradition, seen specifically
through photography, painting, sculpture in bronze and marble, as well as
decorative art. This exploration of an Australian art movement (often
internationally neglected,) showcases many scenes of familiar pastoral
landscapes with a refreshing emphasis on ethereal themes throughout. An example
of this is Arthur Streeton’s A bush idyll (1896)
which presents a group of nymphs linked in an Arcadian dance at twilight. Here
they resonate as the spirits of pastoral traditions embodying the idyllic
inflections of the place. On the whole, the exhibition depicted how an
Australian landscape can be where the supernatural manifestationsand dreams
reside.
In a fantastic display of Australian beauty,
the Art Gallery of New South Wales captivates audiences by offering a new lensethrough
which to view our traditional notions of Australian scenery and landscape.Through
paintings and decorative arts, this exhibition pays homage to classical
European influences.
Photo Signature
& date: Signed and dated l.l. corner, brown oil "ARTHUR STREETON/
1896"
Credit: Gift
of Dr Joseph Brown 1991
