Geoffrey Bardon
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Robert Bardon AM
1940, Sydney
– 6 May 2003) was an Australian school teacher who was instrumental in creating the Aboriginal art of the Western Desert
movement, and in bringing Australian indigenous art to the attention of the world.
Bardon studied law for three years at the University of Sydney
, before changing to study art education
at the National Art School in Sydney, graduating in 1965. He taught art at various New South Wales
country high schools before taking up a posting in 1971 to teach at the primary school at Papunya, a remote Aboriginal
settlement 250 km west of Alice Springs.
While he only stayed 18 months, defeated in the end by a hostile white authority, his legacy saw the beginnings of the Western Desert Painting Movement
.
After encouraging the children to record their sand patterns in paint, he went on to encourage the senior men to paint their Honey Ant Dreaming
on the school wall, preserving their traditional Dreaming
s, or Tjukurpa, and stories in paint. Eric Michaels comments on this in his essay "Bad Aboriginal Art",
"...(directed by Bardon the elders) began to interact with certain issues in 1960s and 70s international painting, especially the extreme schematisation of New York minimalism." Bardon, however, claimed non-intervention. Michaels went further to say that arguably the source of materials was also an influencing factor- acrylic paint.
The artistic movement unleashed at Papunya spread over Central Australia
and has since achieved international acclaim. The Western Desert Painting Movement has provided the rest of the world with new ways of seeing.
Bardon experienced many difficulties in his time in the desert, due to the indifference, neglect and criticism of government departments towards his work – the Honey Ant Dreaming mural painted by the Aboriginal elder
s was painted over with white paint by the authorities. Eventually, Bardon suffered a nervous breakdown
and, upon his return to Sydney, underwent a period of deep sleep therapy
with the notorious Dr Harry Bailey
, which left him weakened.
He worked closely with the Aboriginal painters who became the founders of the Papunya Tula
painting movement during 1971 to 1973, and devoted many years after this to documenting and promoting the Aboriginal art he so admired.
Geoffrey Bardon was made a Member of the Order of Australia
in 1988 for service to the preservation and development of traditional Aboriginal art forms. He is survived by his wife Dorn and two sons, James and Michael.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
1940, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
– 6 May 2003) was an Australian school teacher who was instrumental in creating the Aboriginal art of the Western Desert
Papunya Tula
Papunya Tula, or Papunya Tula Artists Pty Ltd, is an artist cooperative formed in 1972 that is owned and operated by Aboriginal people from the Western Desert of Australia. The group is known for its innovative work with the Western Desert Art Movement, popularly referred to as "dot painting"...
movement, and in bringing Australian indigenous art to the attention of the world.
Bardon studied law for three years at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
, before changing to study art education
Art education
Art education is the area of learning that is based upon the visual, tangible arts—drawing, painting, sculpture, and design in jewelry, pottery, weaving, fabrics, etc. and design applied to more practical fields such as commercial graphics and home furnishings...
at the National Art School in Sydney, graduating in 1965. He taught art at various New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
country high schools before taking up a posting in 1971 to teach at the primary school at Papunya, a remote Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
settlement 250 km west of Alice Springs.
While he only stayed 18 months, defeated in the end by a hostile white authority, his legacy saw the beginnings of the Western Desert Painting Movement
Papunya Tula
Papunya Tula, or Papunya Tula Artists Pty Ltd, is an artist cooperative formed in 1972 that is owned and operated by Aboriginal people from the Western Desert of Australia. The group is known for its innovative work with the Western Desert Art Movement, popularly referred to as "dot painting"...
.
After encouraging the children to record their sand patterns in paint, he went on to encourage the senior men to paint their Honey Ant Dreaming
Dreaming (spirituality)
The Dreaming is a common term within the animist creation narrative of indigenous Australians for a personal, or group, creation and for what may be understood as the "timeless time" of formative creation and perpetual creating....
on the school wall, preserving their traditional Dreaming
Dreaming (spirituality)
The Dreaming is a common term within the animist creation narrative of indigenous Australians for a personal, or group, creation and for what may be understood as the "timeless time" of formative creation and perpetual creating....
s, or Tjukurpa, and stories in paint. Eric Michaels comments on this in his essay "Bad Aboriginal Art",
"...(directed by Bardon the elders) began to interact with certain issues in 1960s and 70s international painting, especially the extreme schematisation of New York minimalism." Bardon, however, claimed non-intervention. Michaels went further to say that arguably the source of materials was also an influencing factor- acrylic paint.
The artistic movement unleashed at Papunya spread over Central Australia
Central Australia
Central Australia/Alice Springs Region is one of the five regions in the Northern Territory. The term Central Australia is used to describe an area centred on Alice Springs in Australia. It is sometimes referred to as Centralia; likewise the people of the area are sometimes called Centralians...
and has since achieved international acclaim. The Western Desert Painting Movement has provided the rest of the world with new ways of seeing.
Bardon experienced many difficulties in his time in the desert, due to the indifference, neglect and criticism of government departments towards his work – the Honey Ant Dreaming mural painted by the Aboriginal elder
Elder (administrative title)
The term Elder is used in several different countries and organizations to indicate a position of authority...
s was painted over with white paint by the authorities. Eventually, Bardon suffered a nervous breakdown
Nervous breakdown
Mental breakdown is a non-medical term used to describe an acute, time-limited phase of a specific disorder that presents primarily with features of depression or anxiety.-Definition:...
and, upon his return to Sydney, underwent a period of deep sleep therapy
Deep Sleep Therapy
Deep sleep therapy , also called prolonged sleep treatment or continuous narcosis, is a psychiatric treatment based on the use of psychiatric drugs to render patients unconscious for a period of days or weeks.-History:...
with the notorious Dr Harry Bailey
Harry Bailey
Harry Richard Bailey was a controversial Australian psychiatrist. He bore the primary responsibility for treatment of mental patients via Sledge hammers, and other methods, at a Sydney mental hospital. He has been linked with the deaths of a total of 85 patients...
, which left him weakened.
He worked closely with the Aboriginal painters who became the founders of the Papunya Tula
Papunya Tula
Papunya Tula, or Papunya Tula Artists Pty Ltd, is an artist cooperative formed in 1972 that is owned and operated by Aboriginal people from the Western Desert of Australia. The group is known for its innovative work with the Western Desert Art Movement, popularly referred to as "dot painting"...
painting movement during 1971 to 1973, and devoted many years after this to documenting and promoting the Aboriginal art he so admired.
Geoffrey Bardon was made a Member of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
in 1988 for service to the preservation and development of traditional Aboriginal art forms. He is survived by his wife Dorn and two sons, James and Michael.
Filmography
- The Richer Hours (1971)
- A Calendar of Dreamings (1976)
- Mick and the Moon (1978)
External links
- Mr. Patterns, a 2004 documentary of Bardon's life, available on DVDDVDA DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
.