| It was the eve of my trip to California, | | | | common people.' They pushed the new fashion |
| touring the first group of oils from my | | | | to unprecedented heights of hyperbole and |
| 'Banjo Paterson's People' series. The | | | | obscene prices. And each novelty, regardless |
| pictures to be exhibited were being previewed | | | | of its worthiness by any standard except |
| for Australian collectors at a cocktail party | | | | fashion, was hailed as a masterpiece as soon |
| hosted by the gallery which represented my | | | | as it hit the market.But we need to be sure |
| work at the time.Suddenly, a trendy local | | | | we're all 'on the same page' when we discuss |
| architect loomed up beside me, champagne | | | | Abstract Art. The officially accepted |
| flute in hand. Looking down the considerable | | | | definition specifies: art in which the |
| length of his nose at me, he commented, 'So, | | | | portrayal of things from the visible world |
| you're really an illustrator, I see.' | | | | plays no part. No recognisable objects can be |
| | | | included. It follows that there can be no |
| I beamed up at him and gushed, 'Oh, thank | | | | such thing as an 'Abstract portrait' or |
| you!' | | | | 'Abstract landscape.' Those paintings |
| | | | mis-named as such should properly be |
| His smirk made his thought transparent: | | | | described as 'Figurative.'The astonishing |
| (She's too dumb to even realise she's just | | | | body of work by Picasso (1881-1973), which |
| been insulted.)Then I added: 'You've elevated | | | | covers 80 years of innovation and experiment, |
| me into the company of Michelangelo and | | | | contains no works that are actually Abstract, |
| Leonardo, Raphael and Rembrandt.' As his jaw | | | | so far as I know. If you have found one, I |
| hit his chest, it was clear the truth had hit | | | | would like to hear about it.A true form of |
| him between the eyes, and I walked away, | | | | Abstract painting can be found in the work of |
| chuckling. Now, why could I dare list my work | | | | 'Colour Field' painters such as Mark Rothko |
| alongside the Masters? Because their 'book' | | | | (1903-1970) and his many imitators. On these |
| was The Bible; mine was 'Banjo' Paterson | | | | - always vast - canvases, geometric shapes |
| (1864-1941.)(That night, I didn't bother to | | | | are filled with colour, sometimes solid, |
| point out that of close to 300 titles in my | | | | sometimes transparent. Sometimes they are |
| Register of sold paintings at the time, only | | | | given titles apparently freighted with |
| 33 were based on Paterson poems or stories. | | | | mysterious meaning e.g. The Existential |
| The current totals are 400 and 63, plus 30 | | | | Sadness of Happiness. Sometimes the title is |
| illustrations of my own version of the story | | | | more honest: a stark Untitled #14. And when |
| of Paterson's words to 'Waltzing | | | | you leave the museum where they are |
| Matilda.')But back to the Masters:When you | | | | displayed, can you recall which design told |
| stand gazing up at the massive marble | | | | of 'The sadness of happiness' or which |
| sculpture of David by Michelangelo, you know | | | | extolled The kindness of cruelty?' Can you |
| it can be no one else but the youth who | | | | differentiate between Untitled #7 and |
| challenged and defeated Goliath. Yet, it | | | | Untitled #13 from memory?Picasso never lost |
| might be anyone. He stands naked of any | | | | sight of the power of Story. Only think of |
| identifying costume. And in this portrait - | | | | his incandescent protest against the futile |
| of the young man destined to become the | | | | brutality of war in 'Guernica.' Or the |
| second Jewish king - he is shown not | | | | psychological power of his series based on |
| circumcised. We are given only one clue: the | | | | the ancient myths of the Minotaur. It seems |
| slingshot. But that is enough.Still, as you | | | | to me that all forms of art are servant to |
| know, no artist is content to simply | | | | the Story. Let me show you why I think |
| illustrate the facts. S/he is thinking always | | | | that.The Movie:This has to be the most |
| of how to present those facts in a new way; a | | | | perfect art form, I think. It combines all |
| way that will stimulate the viewers own | | | | the classic forms, embellished by the many |
| imaginations, start them thinking about more | | | | technological innovations now available and |
| than the remembered story. Michelangelo pared | | | | who knows what wonders yet to come. Yet, |
| away everything superfluous. No action is | | | | without a Story, there is no movie.The |
| evident in the sculpture. But every gesture | | | | Novel:Attempts have been made to produce a |
| of the figure, the complex expression of the | | | | novel devoid of narrative. Famous examples |
| face, tells us that something is about to | | | | include 'Finnegan's Wake' and 'Ulysses' by |
| happen.Leonardo was thinking the same way | | | | James Joyce (1882-1941.) Complex |
| when he made The Last Supper. The great | | | | constructions using devices of 'interior |
| innovation here is the placement of Judas on | | | | monologue' and the 'stream-of-consciousness,' |
| the same side of the table as all the other | | | | these books fascinate literary critics. But |
| disciples, a breakaway from the tradition of | | | | have you ever read them? Do you know anyone |
| isolating the betrayer by seating him apart. | | | | who has?Architecture:If I mentioned the |
| In the hands of the Master painter, all | | | | Sydney Opera House or Notre Dame cathedral, |
| that's needed is the expression on the face | | | | you would not need a photograph to remind you |
| of Judas and the gesture of his figure.Both | | | | of them. You would immediately see a |
| masters used every skill of craftsmanship at | | | | mind-picture of them. Two buildings set far |
| their disposal to engage our emotional | | | | apart in time, they reflect the very |
| response to the work and the story it tells. | | | | different Story of the people who raised |
| And even today, these images, made 500 years | | | | them.Then think of a skyscraper, the icon of |
| ago, fill our minds when we think of those | | | | modernity.Except for those topped with |
| ancient stories. How is that for memorable | | | | identifying decorations, or those endowed |
| art?Now, jump to New York post-WWII, when | | | | with emotional signifigance like the twin |
| Abstract Expressionism was riding the crest | | | | towers of the World Trade Center in New York, |
| of its wave. Abstract Art was declared the | | | | you would be hard put to say which city |
| successor of all art that had come before, a | | | | housed any one typical box. A founding father |
| new broom sweeping away the unfashionable | | | | of the skyscraper, Louis Sullivan |
| traditions of representational art. And with | | | | (1856-1924), believed 'form follows function' |
| it, a new dogma was proclaimed: 'Narrative is | | | | and the skyscraper embodies that principle. |
| dead!'I believe all artists from Kandinsky | | | | Its function is to fit the largest number of |
| (1866-1944) to the latest 'name' in 'Modern | | | | paying tenants into the smallest piece of |
| Art' circles have been genuine in their | | | | high-priced real estate. And its design |
| desire to revolutionise art by experimenting | | | | clearly states its lack of interest in who |
| with (seemingly) new ways of laying paint on | | | | those tenants might be.Music:When you listen |
| a surface. Left to themselves, they would | | | | to a recording of, say, 'Hall Of The Mountain |
| have done no harm. Art is the biggest game we | | | | King' by Edvard Grieg, you have no need to |
| humans have invented, and within it there is | | | | know about the folk stories that inspired |
| room for all manner of playfulness. But some | | | | him. But you will see pictures in your mind |
| art dealers, and those critics who served | | | | as you listen. And yet, unless you are a |
| them, soon awoke to the golden opportunity | | | | classical musician, you are unlikely to be |
| this new art presented.There are people who | | | | able to hum the entire composition in the |
| have much money but little confidence in | | | | shower. This is because there are no words to |
| their own taste, others who feel the need to | | | | help you recall the music. Incidentally, this |
| display a 'sophistication' above that of | | | | is why 'Banjo' Paterson scribbled some verses |
| their fellows. Then there are those who must | | | | that we can sing along with, to the old |
| demonstrate their superiority by possessing | | | | marching song we now know as 'Waltzing |
| whatever is the latest, or most exclusive. | | | | Matilda.'So when the trendoids try to |
| They were the perfect targets for the | | | | convince us that 'Narrative is dead,' my |
| purveyors of this new style of art that was | | | | answer is a giant raspberry that says: 'Oh, |
| presented as beyond the understanding of 'the | | | | yeah? |