University of Tasmania, Australia

Exhibition artist:  Sidney Nolan

In 1956 Sidney Nolan began the Gallipoli series stimulated by his interest in the Trojan Wars, personal memories from childhood and the tragic death of his brother at the end of World War Two. In 1978 Nolan donated 251 works from the Gallipoli series to the Australian War Memorial. This exhibition will include almost sixty paintings, drawings and gouaches from Nolan’s Gallipoli. The exhibition includes a selection of Nolan’s large paintings and drawings of soldiers fighting, explosions, horses, gun carriages and men in pursuit of leisure activities, which will be supported by contextual photographs and text. Also included are Nolan’s large portraits in crayon of quintessentially Australian types; sporting wide brimmed hats and smoking cigarettes. In a few energetic lines Nolan captures their youthful brashness, innocence and exhaustion.

Sidney Nolan: The Gallipoli Series is toured by the Australian War Memorial as part of the Academy Gallery Master Artist Program.