Monday 29 October 2012

NAB TAPESTRY

Last week I had some business to attend to at the bank, but fortuitously I did not go to my usual branch, visiting instead the National Australia Bank branch at 330 Collins Street, in the city. On view in Foyer at the top of stairs, one can see a splendid tapestry adorning the long wall of the stairwell.

It is "Early Days in the Goldfields" of Albert Tucker (1982), a huge work, 5 metres x 2.4 metres. The weavers are Iain Young, Pamela Joyce, Leonie Bessant and Sue Carstairs.
In this tapestry, distinguished Australian artist Albert Tucker (1914 - 1999) evokes a sense of the hard working cobbers in the Australian gold fields during the gold rush of the 1800s.

Tucker’s interest in German Expressionism is apparent in the design, both in his experimental use of space and form, and in his choice of subject, the work-weary souls toiling away at their fortunes, and. This tapestry, translated from a small oil painting, has charmingly figurative elements, while also capturing Tucker’s vigorous, painterly brush strokes.

This post is part of the Mural Monday meme,
and also part of the Mandarin Orange Monday meme.











12 comments:

  1. This is quite impressive. Any idea how long it took to weave? The weaving is so tight you'd not suspect it is a tapestry until you're up close. Tucker understood what a hard scrabble exxistence it must have been. No romantic views here. What a tour de force. Thanks, Nick, for contributing to Monday Mural.

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  2. Beautiful artwork.

    Visiting from Mandarin Orange Monday.
    Orange Tool
    Have a great week ahead!

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  3. A terrific, fascinating post as always, Nick, and such wonderful captures!! That is an amazing piece of work and, no, I wouldn't have suspected it was a tapestry! Hope your week is off to a great start! Enjoy!

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  4. Quite unusual for a tapestry. I really like it!

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  5. wonderful art! Dropping by from Mandarin Orange Monday!

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  6. this is jaw droppingly beautiful work!

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  7. A piece of art indeed. Hopefully it will be well taken care of.

    Please have a good Tuesday.

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  8. We live in a wonderful city Nick.

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  9. A great celebration of Tucker and his work. And i like the angle you used for the first photo - very dramatic!
    Maybe you could visit some Drysdales next:)
    Thank you for taking part in Mandarin Orange Monday.

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  10. Of course the RED caught my eye ... these are really stunning - and all the more so for being less traditional!

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  11. Wow - just stunning - I can not even imagine how long that took to weave.

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