Queensland Art Gallery Presscuttings Book 1 : Presscuttings, 1959-1962

A blank art look CONTROVERSIAL Brit- ish art attracted 2000 people to the Brisbane Art Gallery yesterday. A gallery spokesman said uriosity had brought most f them, and the majority reaction was blank bewilder- ment. The exhibition, which has caused a storm of abuse, is of recent works by seven British artists, sent by the British Government through the British Council. "Rubbish . . . Yesterday's comments In- cluded: "Colourful, shock- ing, what's wrong with the old pictures, rubbish, and obscene." The spokesman said about 30 per cent. of the viewers had said they liked and un- derstood two of the artists, but could not understand the others. Most people had walked casually' around until, feel- ing frustrated, they had asked for the explanatory catalogue on the paintings, which had helped some. He said yesterday's crowd, which visited the gallery be- tween 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. was an average attendance. The exhibition will b open to the public from p.m. to 5 p.m. to-day. %I I 011115_II t 011)111011 RELL 11. P.V.VITVG.S' BY SEri1 BR/T/Sh: VOLSI.S. "TELEGRAPH" Brisbane, Qid. 5 TEE1 right? Is this painting the right way up? This is how it appears in the official catalogue of abstract paintings by British artists being shown at the Queensland Art Gal- lery. According to the way it was sent by the British Council the picture is right, but the council indi- cated the painting It- self should be hung the other way up. '1'111. way the Painting is hung in the Queensland gallery is shown on page 3. "TELEGRAPH" Brisbane, Qld. r rrci UPSIDE DOWN, Olio NOT? Critics can' figure out puzzles in stract art Is cite of the paintings of 4seven British abstract painters, showing in the Brisbane Art Ga ty, hung upside down? question a as should he' hung the intriguing; art critics other wapiti). today. ''The concil, in tPicture shims art effect, has told us both student. l' e n n % ways, so I don't knot) snaepe. Is, of which is correct," 311.. SParkes %Vellt11.. :1,0011. 'tines said, "We will a paint -time rummer- leave the painting as it cial artist. looking :II is.- the painting The painting. No. '.!a. The liVii.illisilig die- is titled. elm% Black eetor in the lAill1/1- anti Vilte. lion. Mr. Robert Il was painted Its Haines appeared stir- 11.017.1 FrOSI. 13, ..1 prised when a Toe- teacher in basic design graph reporter pointed at Leeds College of out that the !tainting Art. in 1937. It is an u as either upside ' 11 Oil 1111 a board. ill lite gaiter% at' the "SIX VISITS ,holograph of il in the ',trivial ea tato:4 tie was NECESSARY" 110,1(10 1101111. "FRANKLY. I Telegraph art crit,r and artist. Mr. MA - DON'T KNOW" mr. 11:,'n1... the gal- %.'iiirill'iell IIIIIISsi:::::;tingli::. a "study in colors and 14.1.) d i rev tor. sa hi : lines." "Frani:II I don't know The seven artis:s. %%Inch is the right wa) whose painting will up. Your guess is as lour Australia. are re - good as mine." Ile said tilt' British 7,arded as Britain's top telltwit, which spice- seven abstraet painters. tell the pa'ailing. hail Mr. Haines said that labelled it 0 ilk t lir artist's 11i11111. and 111- at 1' lge::Isltersi:., f v!:::11.10 :17 galls of the wa) to earl), were tircessa r% lo appreciate th. hating ill'ile coutivil .1st, paintings. But the photo- i1illir. t. aysom ail- in4 ll tmitted that he could graph used in I he catalogue. indicating it not understand at least five of the paintings. "I haven't a clue abort them" he said. The United Kingdom information officer, Mr. Eric Marvell, who acts for the British Council in (Itteensland, said: "I admit that I under- stand only about half o Uhl. paintings. "It is not a kinder- garten exhibition. It is a serious attempt to show the modern trends in British abstract painting. Riau 's reriew -P. B. 1111. It It I.: It 'I' II I N, . . . ,ouir Lilies% is no. g 1 us mine."