TALKING THROUGH YOUR ARTS – DRAWING THE LINE
If a point could move and leave a mark in moving, a line would result. Like an aeroplane leaving a vapour trail, line has some place to go. Our society uses line in many ways and nearly always it follows a predetermined course. It may describe a circle, the contour of a bird, the profile of a hawk-eyed politician, the route to Timbuktu, or the face of an asylum seeker. Even the spiderwebs reflect a meaningful purpose behind the use of line and we expect to use the line directly and forcefully.
From the paraphernalia connected with lines rather than shapes we will see lines wherever we go—factories, military ranks, detention centres or prisons. The line of artistic thoughts will be presented in a network of applied lines as a regional touring exhibition on an Australian master drawer’s legacy at the National Art School.
In 1943 William Dobell was awarded the Archibald Prize, for a portrait of fellow artist Joshua Smith. Smith was one of the two losing artists to draw a line by sueing Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) trustees the following year, arguing the work was a caricature. Dobell won the case, but retreated to a regional life on the shoreline of Lake Macquarie.
Knighted as being one of Australia’s more respected artists in 1966, Sir William Dobell’s legacy continues through the Dobell Art Foundation. One of the estate flagship projects was an art prize “to encourage excellence in drawing and draughtsmanship”. From 1993-2012 the AGNSW in association with the Foundation ran the competition and intend on repackaging the long-lines of 20 years into a relaunched format as the Dobell Australian Drawing Biennial in 2014. We can learn a great deal about line and our society by being alert to its occurrence in the man-made environment.
The 20th anniversary exhibition features winning drawings and works acquired throughout the history of the prize in the AGNSW collection. Accompanying the exhibition the National Art School presents a selection of works by and about Sir William Dobell, including rarely seen works and documents. (AS)
Contemporary Australian Drawing: 20 Years of the Dobell Prize for Drawing and The Dobell Legacy, Aug 30-Oct 5, National Art School Gallery, Forbes Street, Darlinghurst, Free, nas.edu.au
BY ANGELA STRETCH
