‘Birth of the Cool’ is a selection of major works by four painters: David Aspden, Sydney Ball, Michael Johnson and Dick Watkins. It surveys the decade between 1963 and 1973.
With the benefit of hindsight, this can be appraised as a golden era of Australian art, with a brilliant generation emerging in full confidence of its powers, determined to excel at the highest level – not just locally, but in a global context. ‘Birth of the Cool’ has been organised in collaboration with the Anne and Gordon Samstag Museum of Art, University of South Australia, curated by Terence Maloon.
ANU Drill Hall Gallery
6 November to 13 December, 2015
Australian Capital Territory
David Aspden, Outer spice, 1969, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 152.4 x 244 x 2.8cm
Courtesy Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney and ANU Drill Hall Gallery, Australian Capital Territory