Tackling The Field

Editorial

The 1960's were one of the most rapidly changing times in history reflected not only in world events but also on our local art scene. The unveiling of the new National Gallery of Victoria building and its inaugural exhibition, The Field, in August 1968 caused unprecedented controversy in our most eminent art circles.

The exhibition officer of the NGV at the time, John Stringer, was aiming to encapsulate the cutting edge of contemporary Australian art. The forty chosen Australian artists were said by Stringer to be “working in a more or less abstract pattern, geometric, colour field direction” and were heavily represented by under 30s, another fact detractors used to devalue the exhibition.

Tackling the Field, one of the Focus Room series of exhibitions at the Art Gallery of NSW, is a present day exploration of that tumultuous time in Australian Art and the ramifications it has had for subsequent artists. In order to do this, curator Natalie Watson has chosen six paintings that were included in the 1968 gallery opening: Landscape 68-1 (James Doolin), Frontal (Michael Johnson), Vesta II (Paul Partos), Cool Corner II (John Peart), Golden breach (Ron Robertson-Swann) and October (Dick Watkins).

Delve deeper into Australian art history that cause an international stir.

Emma McGowan, Citysearch