Daniel Thomas : Newspaper writings

"TELEGRAPH" Sydney, N.S.W. The Week in Art by Daniel Thomas ONLY one of the seven new exhibitions is of work done in Sydney. Admit tedly Geoffrey Brown's was brought from no further than Adelaide, and Mich- ael Bunn', although paint- ed in San Francisco, is by an artist who lived in Syd- ney for nine years before 1953. But to have four exhibi- tions from overseas is an unusual and welcome de- velopment. Though some problems do emerge for those dealers who seek a little relief from the hot competition for good local artists. Unlike the State galler- ies which have always Im- ported exhibitions from abroad for purely cultural reasons with no thought of money -making - Indeed there is always consider- able expense - the deal- ers presumably do have to think of sales. It appears that really top rank overseas work. by artists with big inter- national reputations, is far too expensive for the local market. Moderate international reputations, like say Ceri Richards, do not seem to register here at all, judging from last year's dune Gallery im- ports The local market is quite unwilling to trust Its judg- ment on anything un- 7,onliter (One might even me on anyone who has nnt, assiduously dtned rowed Svdttey for a couple ie years) Unless c f course the unfamiliar art ist work So far the drawing Is in a wholly familiar style not very sensitive, the Iller the unknown French color though bright is not cornectioners who were resonant, the paint -hand - the ready sellers in that ling is heavy (but Ceylon sap's Cline auction only look to oils in this Se ny now we find Lin century). However he can tutfatt.Plar importations certainly construct a are kept strictly to the low k yA strong composition-on a pet .ed categories - gra large scale too, usually 4 Ones. water,olors. or folk x 3 feet. "Monks" and an - In the hope Jett 'Macaws" are decidedly shsepist buyers might risk . handsome pictures, and something purely on the their more decorative style personal response instead would seem his proper of collecting opinions for ,s : direction, not the ordM- two years fl rat. V. cry Impressionist land- scapes of which there are JACOB PINS at the one or two. K.omon Gallery is one ex- MICHAEL KMIT at the ample This German-bort, Dominion has 30 oils artist living in Israel aimed in America In the makes Internationally - known woodcuts. which Philippine baroque last th2r5ee yea33r0s ourinct, like all original prints are fliti admirers will Rtiel the Intentionally low-priced, in ., _Mqdinno same fine colorist that this cue 10 gns. to 45 gns., collage acts jarzw Ise as a they knew, and the sane for they come in editions subtle, abrupt halt, a romantic subjects: heads usually of thirty or forty tempo or key shift to the of girls, seated girls, stand - copies. He is best when Passages In watereelor Mg girls, and nowerpleces. most starkly black and There are also two less In- But there Is I think some white. most soulful. and teresting oils. aln. Instead of the some - most Jewish, e.g.: "Fight- The folk crafts are at kites too busily frogmen - Mg Beggars." the superb DAVID JONES GALLERY, ted mosaic of many colors 'Tegger ' 1950 and "Head" superbly displayed as there Is now more often a 1950 where the. drama be- -- dud., coonsioratiantoirs single color harmony, us- tween intense black and' unity blue or violet, and snowy white is like a con- the 17th and 18th centuries the forms are larger scaled filet between good and pelt from Denmark, Holland, and simpler "Dancer in some works there is a fruit- Chinese bowls end jars- these new virtues well. Likewise the Rooster'" In Italy, Spain and Exhibition" I I 1 u s trates ful reminiscence of Munch some of enormous a ze - GEOFFREY at and 1900 malaise. In a few exported in the Sung and BROWN others there Is f:ank horn- Ming dynasties to the Phil - Hittites and recently ex- 'aide painter and etcher, the Macquarie is an Ade- age to the Japanese wood- born 1928, previously known cut; and a final group of cavated: 20 to 250 guineas. Levantine landscapes in- And thirdly, wood carvings here only for his etchings. troduccs color and becomes alstoinfroclet:herroPmhiltrinneusi, Nearly all the exhibition a bit touristy. is devoted to simple figure and 18th centuries; that is compositions. The oils are SAM MIDDLETON at after Spanish colonisation Inclined to be worried ex- the Hungry Horse is an and the Introduction of cent for the agreeable American Negro who works Christianle They are elfturative Fragment" and smallsm= tiara Saints "Two Women, the etch. In Amsterdam and ex- Presses ills involvement ings, which produce their domestic devotions, usually with best jazz (Theloniusown surface discipline, Monk mostly) in some of about twelve Inches high suffer by their conspicuous the cleanest, SwIngiest and startling evidence of banality of outline. How- action -type abstracts seen thorough cultural trans- ever one of three gouaches, In Sydney. There are ten plantetion. For they are In "Study No. 2" of a figure lithographs - low-priced an. unmistakeable though leaning over a chair, ISUE- slelansttyle. Only gests that Brown's strength graphics again - at 12 um. afonlgoscycasbiaoralt eastern smile or the is shape and color not watercolor collages at 50 bland eye or a line, n texture. Etchings or to 35 ens.; and a dozen ins. to 150 ans. where the use of ivory betrays their 15gas. and Mena., gouaches distance of half the world 20ens., oils 4Ogna. to 80 gas. wwww..... THORA UNOAR at Barry Stern's has also ex- hibited under the name of Thora Medhurst, has been painting for many years, and now holds a first one- man show of 32 paintings at liens, to 175gns. All are concerned with some east - :ern seaport-Hong Kong perhaps, or Bangkok - where endless sampans TODAY AND NEXT WEEK Art Golloxy of N.S.W.: SoexI 1.11.1, Tow larnbranill' I.e..11.0.: crowd together. From their 1.0 WW1. Penn collecTow A.Mr41,an. Euro,. an. Orient.. repeated shapes she makes her best pictures, "Water et Dwellers' or "Typhoon 1311.1110ow Michael Km% ,..puny*. M.L MIXT WEEK Shelter 3". eurple-broym Mouwariot Goals., Brown, p.01111.. and W.W.II. - SITUP Norm Saw Middleton, paintings. chit.'.*. IlthoaroPhs Won: translucent, scraped :mula :"-rP12," To' r .211.1151K Germain. Lign.ors. Woll.0.01. teehogye. A pleasantly oasis Atom: Mrlippino"Warthwa earrings; One. -uronata. Euro. Prot mum eitninition some metal AITZ ,Coginiw:11.71174.nd Roam Senaka S aaaaa rake. boy arVat Downstairs. Was. Ir.., Chwsorootl. Rohs An Sockty onh.bition. Workshop* Arlo Coning. oblioughlry. Young &nig.. LIONIF.RE. Some fighting sculptures by GERMAIN Cr.., W0111woono: Mon s coops... Joan a.... .malt painttnak have a goof:el:1...n. Anion.% Artarshon Johnnp Maloght. PoWDDIM from Iron.. e0E smartness;keInperft0 OPENING TUESDAY gift-also t r'eaects- OPENING INIONISDAT ilona_reveal an absence Ofat-snop Soap Imam: McItzli.shr how,.. Chinos J Frances Janos Studio. Ron. Yormands, pointing, of Tahiti. JU:1 Ial VitalitY. Prices WHAT'S ON from the expected source. These delightful objects nave startlingly low prices too: Bens. to 35gns. except for a four -footer at 200gus SENAKA SENANAY- AKE at Anthony Hord- ern's Aranda Room is the fourth foreigner. This is not a dealer's venture but rather official cultural propaganda of the kind that brings us most of our foreign exhibitions. though the 20 paintings are avail- able for sale at £43 to £142. He is from Ceylon and is 13 years oldl Al- though one would pause Stonly for a mem it shay were by an adult they are remarkable for a child. In- deed they are remarkably adult in approach, being primarily concerned with formal questions, with composition, pattern -mak- ing, filling the picture rectangle successfully; and unconcerned with story- telling or expressing his own personal experience as is most child art.