THE National Gallery of Australia has today (July 26) announced a major exhibition celebrating Australian artist Jeffrey Smart, who was born 100 years ago today.
The show “Jeffrey Smart” will be curated by Deborah Hart, the Henry Dalrymple head curator, Australian Art, and Rebecca Edwards, the Sid and Fiona Myer curator of Ceramics and Design.
It will showcase more than 100 works of art beginning with his early works from the 1940s to Smart’s last painting “Labyrinth”, completed in 2011.
NGA director Nick Mitzevich said Smart had sought inspiration from the world around him.
“He looked to the environment of urban and industrial modernity such as apartment blocks, factories, transportation, highways and signage. These potent images have become emblematic of the 20th and 21st century urban experience.
“We hope people will feel intrigued and moved by the imagery which Smart deliberately preferred to leave open-ended and to bring their own stories about their place in the world and experiences to their interpretation of his works,” Mitzevich added.
In his time, Smart was an art critic at “The Daily Telegraph”, presenter on the ABC children’s radio program “The Argonauts” and a drawing teacher at the National Art School.
Gallery staff say the exhibition will be an opportunity for new audiences to discover the artist’s dynamic depiction of the 20th century urban experience and will provide fresh insights about his work for long-time enthusiasts, examining themes including architectural constructs, art about art, portraiture and friendships, as well as an in-depth examination of Smart’s art practice – his studio, archive and working methods.
“Jeffrey Smart”, National Gallery of Australia, October 1 to March 6, 10am-5pm daily (except Christmas Day), book here.
Who can be trusted?
In a world of spin and confusion, there’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in Canberra.
If you trust our work online and want to enforce the power of independent voices, I invite you to make a small contribution.
Every dollar of support is invested back into our journalism to help keep citynews.com.au strong and free.
Thank you,
Ian Meikle, editor
Leave a Reply