David Jones, artist and poet (1895-1974) begins his PREFACE TO THE ANATHEMATA :

'I have made a heap of all that I could find.' (1) So wrote Nennius, or whoever composed the introductory matter to Historia Brittonum. He speaks of an 'inward wound' which was caused by the fear that certain things dear to him 'should be like smoke dissipated'. Further, he says, 'not trusting my own learning, which is none at all, but partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the Romans and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymous, Prosper, Eusebius and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons although our enemies . . . I have lispingly put together this . . . about past transactions, that [this material] might not be trodden under foot'. (2)

(1) The actual words are coacervavi omne quod inveni, and occur in Prologue 2 to the Historia.
(2) Quoted from the translation of Prologue 1. See The Works of Gildas and Nennius, J.A.Giles, London 1841.


01 May 2015

"Whaddaya got?"


Mildred : "What are you rebelling against, Johnny?"
Johnny (Marlon Brando) : "Whaddaya got?"
- The Wild One, 1953

We regard National Portrait Gallery projects as a strange thing.

We regard the Bestowing of Imperial Honours as a strange thing.

We regard the Declaration of Sainthood as a strange thing.

We regard the Awarding of Prizes to artworks as a strange thing.
         
National Portrait Gallery removes portrait of Joko Widodo

Books and Arts
ABC Radio National
Friday 1 May 2015 

"In the wake of the executions of Australians Myruan Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra has removed a portrait of Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

The National Portrait Gallery's director, Angus Trumble, says the gallery was concerned the portrait might be defaced.

The photographic portrait, by international photographer Adam Ferguson, was originally taken as a cover photo for Time magazine and was a finalist in the National Photographic Portrait Prize."


image of removed photo : 
Jokowi, Indonesia, 2014, by Adam Ferguson 
(delete/reinstate) FIAPCE
                           
This morning on Books and Arts, Michael Cathcart interviewed the director of the National Portrait Gallery about his decision, after the execution on Wednesday of the two Australian drug runners, to remove the image of the Indonesian president from the walls of the NPG.


In the second part of the interview there is this exchange, which of course we regard as a strange thing :

Michael Cathcart : Now, on another matter, there's been a lot of coverage in the paper, following these grotesque executions, about Myruan Sukumaran's own work, his own paintings. Are you planning on acquiring any of these for the gallery?

Angus Trumble : No.

M C :  Would you consider doing it?

A T : Well, it hasn't presented itself as an option. And I very much doubt they would fall into our Collection Development Policy which is fairly finely crafted to reflect Australian distinctions and walks of life.

M C : So, what would be an appropriate place to hang those works of art? Because I think a lot of people would like to see them. I'd love to see them.

A T : I can't possibly comment. I don't know. 

M C :  Well, Angus Trumble, it's been good to talk to you. Thanks for joining us.

A T :  Thanks Michael. 


Theatre of the Actors of Regard  
image above from : 
Belinda Grant Geary/Daily Mail Australia, 13 March 2015
           
another recent article here :
The Art Of Myuran Sukumuran: Dispatches from Emotional Battle Lines
W H Chong/Crikey, 1 May 2015
            
detail
A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something...

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