From Power Publications:
Sheridan Palmer’s landmark biography of Bernard Smith launches at the Victorian Artists’ Society, site of ‘The Antipodeans’ exhibition of 1959.
‘Better to make history than to write about it. What is needed is a brotherhood of some kind, compact, devoted, with a colourful title . . .’
Bernard Smith, letter to Robin Boyd, 1957
Key dates:
Thursday 16 June 2016
National Library of Australia, Canberra book launch & public talk by Sheridan Palmer
Wednesday 20 July 2016
Art Gallery of NSW
Sydney joint book launch with The Legacies of Bernard Smith (Power Publications, 2016) & public lecture by Terry Smith, Andrew W Mellon Professor of Contemporary Art History and Theory, University of Pittsburgh
Bernard Smith’s ‘brotherhood’ was to become the famous group of Australian artists called The Antipodeans, and Smith was to write their manifesto.
‘The Antipodeans’ exhibition in 1959 was a watershed moment for Australian art. The exhibition included work by Charles Blackman, Arthur Boyd, David Boyd, John Brack, Robert Dickerson, John Perceval, Clifton Pugh and, of course, Bernard Smith.
But this is just one of Smith’s significant contributions to the history of Australian art, and one of many instances where he sought to highlight the importance of contemporary Australian art and communicate its role in society.
Palmer says, ‘Bernard was emphatic that Australian artists had to retain their autonomy, their difference.’
And Bernard is someone who understood the value of a different perspective, having begun his life as a ward of the State. He would go on to be considered the father of Australian art history.
Through years of interviews and exclusive access to Smith’s papers and library, Palmer’s biography reveals the unique character of this exceptional man.
Power Publications is delighted to celebrate the launch of Hegel’s Owl with Smith’s contemporaries, students, family and friends, who, like all of us, credit him with establishing Australia’s place in global art history.
HEGELS OWL PRESS RELEASE (full press release)
Review copies of the book and high resolution photographs of the launch are available on request.
For enquiries, or to arrange an interview with Sheridan Palmer or Bernard’s granddaughter, Kate Challis, please contact Power Publications:
Marni Williams, Publications Officer, Power Publications
The University of Sydney
+61 2 9351 7324 marni.williams@sydney.edu.au
powerpublications.com.au