Chinese Landscape, 1982

Sidney Nolan, Chinese Landscape, 1982, spray paint on canvas, 183 x 160 cm, Collection of the Sidney Nolan Trust, © Sidney Nolan Trust

Celia Perceval, artist, daughter of Mary Nolan (neé Boyd) and John Perceval.

“I like this painting as it is such a simple interpretation of the Karst mountain landscape in Southern China. I have travelled along the Li Jiang river and seen these beautiful mountains.
I remember many occasions sitting, listening to Sid talking about his travel experiences and his thoughts on just about everything on earth!
You could see how his work came from his ability to store a mine of information and visual memory from his travels.

He used to say that a painting was 'spot on' when it worked instantly. Looking at this, a grand subject, executed so briefly with immediacy so typical of Sid’s work, it is 'spot on'. Also, not accidentally, it seems to sympathise with Chinese ink paintings of similar subjects portraying a superb, peaceful landscape, with the same immediacy.
Which, in my view, is the genius!

Mum and Sid loved everything about China. They went there on several occasions. Wonderful experiences travelling on the Yangtze River by boat and around the Guilin area, surrounded by these amazing limestone mountains.

It was one of their favourite places so this painting brings back nice memories for me.”