Daniel Thomas : Newspaper writings

"TELEGRAPH" Sydney, N.S.W. 16 AU G 1964 ,VHDAY ..ygLfpRAM AD441Sy 16., 1964 , 55 The' Week in Art by Daniel Thomas DAVID JONES' exhibi- lion of Thai sculp- ture, its second in two years, completes ti:^ fami- liarisation process. By now we should .11 feel at home In this wo ld of Buddhist art, at re- cognise the chief styles over the thousands or so Years lu question, able to distinguish quality within these styles, and able to ex- press preferences. My preference is for the earliest style, the Dvara- vati, 6th-l1th century, in which stucco or terracotta Is the usual material, since the heads (almost invari- ably broken off decorated walls) are directly model- led they retain a liveliness and immediacy not found In the Khmer atone carv- ings (l1th-14th century) or the bronzes of sub - t sequent periods. These early stucco have an Indian earthiness; they grin broadly, they lollop plumply as Mue West. They err by no means in- scrutable. The later styles are lese Indian, more re- fined. A classic simplicity and calm is found in the Khmer atone carvings - the largest of the Urns torsos is exceptionally beautiful; while a supreme flame -like elegance appears in the Sokothai bronzes like the little walking Buddha. Two footnotes to Thai sculpture were not seen In the previous exhibition. One is the interesting Chleng Sen style, from Northern Thailand, I1th- 14th century, illustrated here by five bronzes, of which the most notable Is a large fat-cheeked Buddha head with green patina. The other is busily the gildedprese "Bnantgkcapitaok stylle" city, , founded only in 1781, just seven years older than Sydney. But in this style there Is mainly surface effect, and very little sculp- tured quality. This exhibition of very beautiful objects is uperb- ly displayed, with as profu- sion of Thailand orchids to keep the sculptures company. One must praise another of Mr. iaine are policies: as usual there many things at as little as ens., even though the perim- rtant ones rise to 2200 gas. The only fault is the absurdly short time, 10 days, that the exhibition has been allotted. Now at the Art Gallery of New South Wales is one of several very useful sur- veys circulated round the State Galleries this year. There has never been such difficulty in knowing the situation of Australian iainting, but almost noth- ng was known of point- making, pottery, or sculp- ture (the sculpture exhibi- tion will not reach Sydney till next year) until these three surveys - the first ever held-were circulated. The pottery show in- cludes New Zealand, be- cause that country prides Itself on pottery, publishes magazines, keeps active contact with Cornwall and Japan. It may be that their best petters are absent-though this is unlikely-but New Zealand compares mos t unfavorably with Austro.- lia. Their pots are small, grey, ugly and timid by comparison with our own big, hold, colorful or just sheer professional ones. New Zealand's 32 pot- ters include Len Castle with an unlikeable but per- sonal style that demands admiration, and Wallyn Hing with a good Chinese style look like early 30th century arta and crafts ladles. Australia, on the other hand, with 28 potters, has three distinct groups of Importance. One group treats the pot some- what as sculpture, that is, the invention of strong WHAT'S ON TODAY AND Near WEEK An Gallery et N.S.W. Special Exhibitioner William Debell retro- rimer.: A ostrallan and N.. Zealand Potterer German Expo. ,0. Print/. V.0 luterech. Nertustier hide Comb. CLOSING MONDAY NOON PA der Ian Fairweather. ALL NEXT WEEK David Jones: Thal Sculpture. N ano $41/14: Pro !Uri. E ducation Deparlinewt: Watercolour ',Millet*, annual trObitIon. Rudy Moment Seven $n5bon. MM.,. Terry Clonal John Mattlenota OPENING TUESDAY Hymilry Norm Shamir Dave. painter. Drainienr Hued Anniversary New. Crina Well r Env' Crya, paintings. OPENING WEDNESDAY Macerrarrin Er :a McGricerlo, paintlau. TUESDAY ANT FILMS Er...opener, Art Secialy.vAdrer trail. brieh St.. ""n'') TIVAISVAlt "A74 1141.;;II An Gallery Society. Art Garlery of N.S.W.. 0.30 p m. nd 0.70 Rembrendt. Debell, Orrental Rugs. forms is very important, and the pots are Inclined to be big. Bernard Salim, Col Levy and Mares, Gaz- zard are the outstanding ones here. With Leckie the pots actually do become sculptures (of birds), but he la the only instance of this. Others to note are Milton Moon, and Eileen Keys. Another distinct group works within the greatest of all ceramic traditions. the Oriental, and does It very well. They are per- fectora rather than invent- ors. their glazes are sump- tuous, a n d often more Important than the forms. Hughan. Rushforth, the Englunds and Blakebrough are the leaders here (Mc- Meekin is not represented, evidently having nothing available at the time the exhibition was assembled. Tom Sanders was the only other who failed to pro- vide anything). A third distinct group of two men only, David Boyd and John Perceval, Is ra- ther disdained by tradi- tional potters for treating the objects somewhat as paintings, less for practi- cal use than as a medium of self-expression and the expression of a fairy tale, goblin self at that, It suits David Boyd much better than his painting does. GAUDY Two very interesting new names to me: Carl McConnell, a Brisbane potter, and Derek Smith, now working in Hobart, both soundly traditional. Australia has a few slippery and gaudy pots by Allan Lowe, and the Shams, but on the whole the condition of Austra- lian pottery is healthy and by no tem..; as in- bred as might ha se been expected. The Art G alloy of N.S.W. Quarterly (3/i de- votes its current issue to Australian pots owhed by the Gallery. Pottery ln Australia (5/), nr.l Victor the Potters' Society maga- zine, which comes out two or three times a year, is now well established. The latest issue has the usual professional interest, glaze recipes, kiln designs, ac- counts of Japanese and English potteries, reports and illustrations of ex- hibitions in A u s trails. Subscriptions: 30 Tuna- murra Avenue, Turramur- ra, N.S.W. The Watercolor Insti- tute's annual exhibition (E d u cation Department Gallery. Bridge Street) falls neatly into two halves. The abstract one stars Gil- liland, supported by Margo Lewers, Sal K a us kas, Elizabeth R o o ney, Torn Green, Peter Laverty. The realist half stars Alfred Cook, supported by Abo- tins, Missing ham and George Duncan (whose "Conversation Piece" Is a rather German - looking figure subject with some psychological tension - rare in the polite world of watercolor). The two halves are different, but neither is better than the other. Prices, 14-85 gm. Pro ',fart (Barry Stern Gall-ry) is an untrained "primitive," or naive painter from Broken Hill, He turns out not to be 80 with a professional beard, but a solid young man In the prime of life, and equipped with a rapid, rather slick style (24 paintings, 25 to 85 gas.), which fills up the red- soiled open scrubland of mulga with locust swarms of men - Geebung polo players, Eureka Stockade and other goldfield trou- bles. "Waltzing M a tit d a," with fewer characters, re- tains the proper primitive charm, but two little studies, "Ant" and "In- sect," are delicate and full of technical knowhow. By the time technique becomes so Important and the sub- ject's importance dimin- ishes, an artist is hardly naive. His next exhibi- tion will have to be judged as a professional one. 4 111