Utzon’s Opera House: Australian artists inspired by Sydney’s cultural icon
The S.H. Ervin Galley is honoured to be presenting the exhibition Utzon’s Opera House over the summer period, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the opening of the Opera House in 1973 and to celebrate its significance for Australian visual artists.
The Sydney Opera House, designed by Danish architect Jøern Utzon is an architectural icon and one of the most outstanding buildings of the twentieth century. Recognised in 2007 by UNESCO on the World Heritage List, it is appropriate that the National Trust celebrate this milestone of Australia’s most remarkable building.
The inspiration for the exhibition has its genesis in the 2012 exhibition Australian Artists and the Sydney Opera House (curated by Lin Utzon) at the Utzon Center in Denmark which took the work of eight Sydney artists to Aalborg, the birthplace of Jøern Utzon.
The S.H. Ervin Gallery exhibition expands on this selection and include images of the indigenous figure Bennelong, after whom the peninsula it stands on is named, as well as works by some of Australia’s leading artists including Eric Thake, William Dobell, Lloyd Rees, Brett Whiteley, John Olsen, Margaret Olley, Martin Sharp, Ken Done, Peter Kingston, Kevin Connor, Noel McKenna and Chris O’Doherty aka Reg Mombassa.
There will also be on display original drawings and working models by Utzon, which are held by the State Library of New South Wales. Works will be drawn from public and private collections across the country.
An S.H. Ervin Gallery exhibition presented in association with the Sydney Opera House.
PUBLIC PROGRAM
Sunday afternoons @ the Gallery
Sunday 1 December, 3pm Join curator Nick Vickers, along with exhibiting artists Rew Hanks and Bruce Latimer as they discuss their printmaking processes
Sunday 15 December, 3pm Join artists Peter Kingston and Tom Carment as they discuss their fascination with Sydney Harbour and the Opera House
Sunday 12 January, 3pm Art, Life & Poetry – Join artist and NYE creative genius Reg Mombassa, with artist Mika Utzon Popov and the DiVerse poetry group as they discuss words and art
Sunday 19 January, 3pm Join journalist Scott Bevan for a discussion with exhibiting artists Ken Done and Noel McKenna, followed by a special screening of John Weiley’s film Autopsy on a Dream: the making of the Sydney Opera House.