Nolan's Africa

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In 1962, Sidney Nolan travelled through Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia. On this journey through East Africa, the artist studied lions, elephants and giraffes in the Serengeti and arduously tracked mountain gorillas in the Congo. He met ethnic tribal groups and watched labourers toiling in the fields before arriving in the ancient city of Harar, once home of his childhood hero, French surrealist poet Arthur Rimbaud.

The paintings inspired by this journey are however far more than representations of exotic animals, people and landscapes. His January 1962 Auschwitz experience loomed large, and in Africa, he associated the wanton slaughter of wildlife, destruction of habitat and geopolitical power struggles with Europe’s recent genocide. The African Journey paintings tackle themes of conflict, animal extinction and the impact of colonialism.

The exhibition follows the recent publication of Nolan’s Africa by researcher and Nolan scholar Andrew Turley. Turley has dedicated the last twelve years to unearthing the unknown histories of the artist's culturally significant mid-twentieth century works, including Auschwitz, the Adelaide Ladies and now Africa and has worked closely with the Trust to develop and curate the exhibition.