Australian Art

This subject pivots on a series of provocations regarding art, identity and geography. It poses the question, one proposed to artist Bessie Davidson in the late nineteenth century: does art have a nationality? It interrogates settler/invader/colonial art and its persistence in the face of 65,000 years of continuous culture. Largely chronological in approach, and encompassing all Australian art traditions including First Nations art, this subject examines where Australian art happens, and introduces us to those who made it, and who continue to make it today. It examines historic and recent art histories including those written by Bernard Smith, Joan Kerr, Ian McLean and Rex Butler that argue for, and against, national art histories. In so-called Australia, can there even be a national art history, and if so, who gets to call it?

学习澳大利亚艺术的历史、风格与发展。

• 1Position key works of art and artists within the canon and counter canon, of Australian Art.
• 2Discuss and share their knowledge of the development of Australian art since 1770 including settler and First Nations traditions.
• 3Analyse critically and synthesise key written and visual sources that centre on major themes in Australian art histories.
• 4Argue for and/or against the proposition that art has a nationality, using primary and secondary sources.