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Cherry Hood
Seyden - by Sydney artist Cherry Hood is Aitken Hill's most controversial piece to date. Confronting,
haunting yet seductively beautiful, the compelling gaze of her young subject creates an existential
uncertainty as he confronts the viewer. It is also interesting to note that - almost exclusively - Hood uses
watercolour paint to realize an uncanny melting effect in her works. Hood is well known for winning the 2002
Archibald prize and the Kedumba Drawing award.
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John Olsen
Olsen is one of Australia's most important artists, recently winning the 2005 Archibald Prize for his
self-portrait 'Janus Faced'. Olsen has work in every State and National collection. He became prominent in
the 1950s as a painter of the 'You Beaut Country series' and was further commissioned to paint the
controversial large scale piece 'Five bells' at the Sydney Opera House.Western World tapestry was designed
by John Olsen and woven by Bruce Arthur and Deanna Conti in the mid 1960's.
Western World was very different in character to his earlier tapestries. More exuberant and
densely textured, the Arthur's thread quite thick hanks and skeins of wool into and over the surface. On
occasion, strands of twigs and other natural material were added, allowing Olsen the freedom to improvise.
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John Coburn
The art of John Coburn is amongst the countries most recognisable. Coburn has works in every State and
National collection, and has received numerous accolades since the birth of his career in 1957. Coburn's
style is based on bold, decorative use of flat colours. This suits large-scale Paintings and tapestries, but
is also useful for his work with vivid screen-prints. The Sydney Opera House commissioned his most famous
tapestries 'Curtains of the Sun and Moon'.
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Inge King
Inge King has been at the forefront of the development of non - figurative sculpture in Australia since
her migration from Berlin in 1951. King was one of the founding members of the influential 'Centre 5' group
whose aim was to 'help foster public awareness of contemporary sculpture in Australia'. The group also
advocated the advancement of abstraction in sculpture, which by the 1970's was characterised by the use of
industrial techniques and highlighted through materials such as scrap metal.
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Sydney Ball
Ball's art has developed through many styles and changes of direction. This piece is from his Op-art
manner, influenced by American art of the 1960s (he spent some time in New York) and dispenses with natural
figuration in favour of abstract colour-form relationship. This 'optical' restriction is intended to have an
emotional effect without the influence of subject matter.
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