Drawing takes the spotlight
The sometimes understated art of drawing will be celebrated at a unique event at ANU next week.
For the Love of Drawing, a symposium being held on Friday 11 April celebrates the Contemporary Australian Drawing: 20 Years of the Dobell Prize for Drawing exhibition, showing at the Drill Hall Gallery from 11 April to 18 May.
Nicholas Harding, Eddy Avenue (3)
2001. Black ink on two sheets of torn and abraided paper, 132.4 x 149 cm © the Artist. Photo: Mim Stirling, Art Gallery of New South Wales.
“Drawing tends to be a more understated art form, and drawings are not often celebrated as finished works of art,” says ANU art historian Dr Elisabeth Findlay.
“It’s often seen as a preparatory step for painting or other forms of art, something that artists have to learn in their first year, or just one tool in a set of an artist’s skills.
“Drawing as a standalone art form has its own unique characteristics – it’s an intimate medium that gives a very close sense of how an artist works. It often elicits an emotional response from people, which is reflected in the title of the symposium.”
Sir William Dobell was an Archibald prize winning artist who was known for his landscapes and portrait paintings. The Dobell Prize, which ran for 20 years, recognised the importance of drawing for Australian artists and in Dobell’s work.
The Sir William Dobell Art Foundation supports the Sir William Dobell Chair of Art History at ANU. Karen Wann, chair of the trustees of the foundation, and Paula Latos-Valier, a board member, will both attend the Symposium.
Andrew Sayers, one of the key speakers on the day, will discuss the history of drawing in Australia. Sayers helped raise the profile of the role of drawing in Australian art history as author of 100 Years of Australian Drawing, and has worked extensively in national galleries and cultural institutions.
The symposium will bring together a number of different perspectives on drawing. Dr Louise Marshall, an expert on Italian Renaissance art, will discuss Michelangelo and Renaissance drawing. Terence Maloon, Director of the Drill Hall Gallery, will speak about the challenges of curating an exhibition featuring drawings.
“Drawings are quite fragile and are a challenge for conservators,” says Dr Findlay. “They can usually only be displayed in low light and for short periods of time, which adds to the mystique surrounding them.”
The symposium runs from 2pm – 5:30pm on Friday 11 April, and is followed by a reception at 6pm at the Drill Hall Gallery. In collaboration with the Drill Hall Gallery, the reception will be hosted by Professor Toni Makkai, Dean of the College of Arts and Social Sciences. Please register here if you would like to attend these events.
For the Love of Drawing is proudly presented by the College of Arts and Social Sciences and the Drill Hall Gallery.