From Head of Visual Arts, Tanya Schnieder
During the month of May, The Visual Arts year 11 and 12 students attended two important and exciting exhibitions at the AGNSW. The two exhibitions were John Olsen’s You Beaut retrospective and Andy Warhol’s exhibition titled Adman. Both of these exhibitions were engaging and the students found their artworks to be very interesting and different from each other.
Thematically, John Olsen’s artworks capture the Australia’s interior landscape. His more famous works are of lake Eyre. The lager mural- like paintings depict the Sun, Sydney-both the city and suburbs; Sydney Harbour; Food etc. Generally, Olsen celebrates the joyfulness and effervescence of life. These ideas are communicated through the Australian landscape and people.
John Olsens work
Andy Warhol’s Exhibition on the other hand, celebrates Andy Warhol’s early work as a creative graphic designer working for Advertising Agencies. Some of the early works include advertisements for newspapers and magazines. His more famous advertisements were of advertising shoes; celebrities; perfumes and clothing lines. Known company names included Tiffany’s and Christian Dior.
The Year 11 and 12 students thoroughly enjoyed both these exhibitions and learnt about Andy Warhol’s and John Olsen’s practice.
Artwork by Andy Warhol
