Vew from the chair: Speeches of Richard WL Austin

The choice by the patrons of the word 'uncommon' in the title of this precursor exhibition is a clever one. Its very imprecision will leave all options open and will allow sensible discussion until the very last moment. After all, a word means what one chooses it to mean, said Humpty Dumpty, and a man with two heads is just as much an uncommon Australian as is a Prime Minister who could pass for an undertaker. Should portraits of both be included or only that of the latterl In other words, will the gallery be a gallery of names or of faces, or of both names and faces, and, whatever it turns out to be, what emphasis, if any, will be placed on artistic excellencel The London Portrait Gallery is a gallery of names, based on the celebrity of the sitter and not on the genius of the artist. As one guidebook puts it, 'Masterpieces stand cheek by jowl with amateurish daubs rather as if Rembrandt had sent in an entry to the local Townswomen's Guild art show'. The Edinburgh Gallery, on the other hand, includes faces that stand as landmarks in the history of Scottish portraiture, even when the sitter is not particularly eminent, as well as depictions of great events in Scottish history. Which model, Iwonder, will our Gallery followl Oscar Wilde once said, rather disparagingly, about one of his friends, 'He has an English face-once seen never remembered'. Would we wish to have a Gallery full of quickly forgotten portraits, no matter how eminent the sitters might bel . Perhaps our opener, Sir Jack Brabham, of whom a very pleasant photograph is hanging on the wall, will help us to answer these questions. On the other hand, perhaps he may prefer not to risk it, in line with his philosophy-mentioned in the catalogue--to win the race in the slowest possible time and let the other drivers take the risks. As a man who, even without taking risks, has won the world racing championship three times, once with a car bearing his own name, he is certainly entitled to be called not only an uncommon Australian, but a distinguished Australian as well, and it is an honour to invite him to open the exhibition. 15 Speech at the opening of 'Francis Lymbumer: A Retrospective', 28 September 1992 NOTE: THIS EXHIBITION, SHOWN FROM 28 SEPTEMBER TO 22 NOVEMBER, WAS ORGANISED BY THE ART GALLERY OF NEW SOUTH WALES. Welcome to all those present, and particularly to some special guests: Julian Lymburner, the artist's son, who has helped with this exhibition; Philip Bacon, who has also helped, and who has provided financial support for the catalogue; Len and Kath Shillam, who were fellow students with Francis, and shared a studio with him; and Mrs Anthea Wieneke, wife of a former Director of this Gallery who knew Francis well during his student days. Thanks are also due to the Art Gallery of New South Wales, which has organised the tour that is taking in Sydney, Newcastle, Hobart, Bathurst and Brisbane; and 80