Ned Kelly comes to Nowra
Ned Kelly is in Nowra. Well, his death mask. It is one of the three remaining death masks made of bush ranger Ned Kelly after he was hanged, aged 25 at Old Melbourne Gaol in November 1880. It is on show at Shoalhaven Regional Gallery in a major exhibition, DEATH . LOVE . ART. until 03 February 2024.
When you see it you may be surprised, as I was, at how small it is – almost like a child’s head. This impression is made all the more striking by the enormity of the myth of the man.
In his lifetime Kelly was notorious for theft and murder, was tried and executed. His story quickly went from news, to tall tale, to myth and legend – mostly through popular song, music, painting, cinema, opera and literature – all fuelled by the image of the man in the iron mask and Kelly’s 56 pages of writing known as the Jerilderie letter. Author Peter Carey knows the letter well, he says:
“It is an extraordinary document, the passionate voice of a man who is writing to explain his life, save his life, his reputation … And all the time there is this original voice – uneducated but intelligent, funny and then angry, and with a line of Irish invective that would have made Paul Keating envious.”
Ned Kelly. Photo courtesy National Museum of Australia.
Securing the loan of Kelly’s death mask was a particular artistic coup for the exhibition’s curator, Max Dingle, who has spent three years putting together this ambitious show. Dingle has selected works by 28 artists and secured loans of items from 21 museums, collections and galleries across Australia, saying:
“Some of the greatest art – literature, music, architecture, painting, sculpture – has been inspired when death and love intersect. From ancient rituals to modern-day customs, this exhibition showcases how art has been used to express grief, honour the departed, and celebrate life.”
Ned is in fine company in the gallery with exemplary works by First Nations artists Tony Albert, Vernon Ah Kee, Maree Clarke, and Jason Wing; other highly accomplished Australian artists such as Grace Burzese, Katthy Cavaliere, Joy Hester, and Vicki Vavaressos to name a few. The diverse works on show encompass painting, drawing, printmaking, multi-media, video and sculpture, as well as ancient Chinese pottery, early Roman funeral portraits, contemporary film costume.
Maree Clarke, 2012. Women in mourning, I. Inkjet print. Image courtesy of the artists and Vivian Anderson Gallery.
Amid the striking presence and power of major artworks in the show, for me, it was the smallest, humblest object that had the greatest impact – a painfully poignant First World War commemorative brooch.
Two of George and Emily Boddington’s three sons were killed during World War 1. Frederick Boddington was killed in action at the first battle of Bullecourt. Four weeks later George Boddington died of wounds sustained at the second Battle of Bullecourt.
The Australian government officially acknowledged the loss of sons and fathers through the distribution of commemorative plaques, ribbons and badges. Emily Boddington was awarded a blue and white enamel brooch with two stars and two bars, incised with the words “For Duty Done”. A star and a bar for each dead son.
Don’t miss the chance to see this unique exhibition on show in Nowra until Saturday 03 February 2024. Throughout January there is a range of day time and evening public events associated with the exhibition: performances, workshops, interactive tours.
DEATH . LOVE . ART
Shoalhaven Regional Gallery
12 Berry Street Nowra NSW 2541
Visit gallery website for opening hours and information about public events.
