The Burrawang Private Art Collection
Live the journey of an emerging nation as seen through the eyes of its artists.
Burrawang's private art collection was initially assembled in 1993 by Melbourne
based art critic, John Buckley. Tastefully incorporated throughout Burrawang's
homestead and boutique lodges, the paintings, sculptures, photography and other
artworks/artefacts represent colonial and contemporary artists from Gould to
Valamanesh.
A history of Australia, as seen through the eyes of its artists, captures our nation's fascination with the unruly bush landscape of the outback. Though tamed in our cosmopolitan cities, yet close to the Australian heart, the vastness of the outback's immense sky, and its ever-changing panorama of shifting mood, inspires awe.
Australian landscapes and its people theme the early pieces of Burrawang's collection. Patchworks depict pioneering days. S.T. Gill's lithograph preserves a stockman's hut. Ferdinand von Mueller lithographs and works from Gould's "Mammals of Australia" series, capture the settlers' discovery of our country's abundant botanical and animal species.
Completing the colonial works are Sainson Pinx' 1830 lithograph of Hobart, along with two studies of native birds by Silvester Diggles and fine watercolours of English and Australian birds by H. H. Calvert.
Fascinating sculptures add depth to the artworks collection. Two large metal sculptures by Antonio Colangelo, and a pair of mud and stick "falling" figures by Hossein Valamanesh adorn guest accommodations, often drawing comments of admiration.
The large, freestanding laminated wood sculpture by Les Dorahy is an excellent
example of this well regarded Sydney sculptor's work. Also displayed, the "baseball
bat" by Andrew Wright-Smith, is a fine representation of the young, Melbourne
artist's acclaimed work.
Many Aboriginal or "koori" artworks are included in the collection. Among them are a beautiful piece from the Yuendumu region and a very fine bark painting by Mick Gubargu (regarded by many to be the best of the traditional bark painters).
Photography collectors will be pleased to find a collection of Jeff Carter's "outback" pictures
on display.
