University of Adelaide Art Collection

If University is meant to be a breeding ground for ideas, then its surrounds should also challenge the mind. Since its foundation in 1874 the University of Adelaide has sought to provide just that environment so much so that it now houses an amazing array of sculpture and art work. Recently the University's Art Curator, John Perkins took Postcards on his own special tour of this institutions artistic treasures, treasures which you can enjoy free of charge. In open view for all to see at the western end of the Napier Building is a piece regarded by those in the know as one of the finest in Australia, crafted by a sculptor seen as one of the giants of his field.

"It's called Reclining Connected Forms. Henry Moore was, some say the most significant sculptor of the twentieth century. So we're very fortunate having it here, There are very few Henry Moore's in Australia."

Viewed from different angles it conveys a range of possible meanings. "The inspiration for it came from a visit to London where he became fascinated in suits of armour. He studied them at the Wallis collection, just as the suit of armour protects the body inside or the snail shell protects the soft interior parts of the snail, so too does the mother protecting the child in the womb, This was the sort of theme behind this type of work. It is a very valuable piece, it certainly is the jewel in the University's collection." Sharing the space nearby into the Walter Young Garden, is Dual by Greg Johns. It hasn't always been treated with equal respect in fact it had to be moved because a number of graduates found it the ideal sculpture with which to hone the accuracy of their handball and foot passing skills during the football season. Moving inside, and the University's art collection is ever present and includes works by the greats of modern Australian painting.

"It's called the Australian Letters series, the name comes from the journal Australian Letters which was established in 1957 by Bryan Davies, Max Harris and Geoffrey Dutton and during the 1960's they started commissioning works of art for the cover of the journal but also collaborative works between artists and poets. This work is one of those collaborative ventures. The poet is Max Harris and the artist is Arthur Boyd. The paintings were not to illustrate the poetry, Max wrote the poems and Arthur Boyd responded to them. And so you have this interesting combination of an artist's response to the poems that were written."

These Australia wide collaborations were meant to be kept together. This one adjacent to a bank of computers in the Barr Smith Library is the only one in the country to remain intact. Boyd was also commissioned by the University to produce a ceramic mural in the Napier building for the Law Faculty. It never went ahead and the artist later suggested another series on the theme of Judges. The Law Faculty probably wished the University had never taken up the offer because the Judges series is a savage indictment on the judiciary.

"Arthur Boyd apparently had an interest in judges, he felt a series on judges might be appropriate. He was very concerned that judges were aware of human frailty and this series was the result. It has an interesting follow-up in that it didn't go down with various departments." "The legal department?" we asked. "Yes the subject matter was somewhat controversial for the time." Now surprisingly Boyd's savagery towards the judiciary didn't go down well and this collection was never hung in the Law Faculty. Instead finding a home in the Equinox Restaurant in the Union Building. Such art treasures are scattered throughout the campus. The University of Adelaide Art Collections catalogue can be purchased at the Mitchell Building off North Terrace for $10 dollars, then again you can just take a wander and find them for yourself. For more information you can email info@postcards-sa.com.au