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It continues to be a remarkable journey for me to be
included in this rediscovery of Ludwig Leichhardt.
Through Bill Gannon’s passionate and academic approach
I was generously asked to contribute my impressions of
the tall Prussian. I was able to join Bill and Rod Schlencker
at what was the bitter sweet successful conclusion of
Leichhardt’s epic journey. From the mystifying descent
from Jim Jim Falls to the Coburg Peninsula.
Prior to my joining the expedition I immersed myself
in John Bailey’s fantastic
Into The Unknown
and while
that certainly provided a much needed background and
overview of not only the man but the circumstances and
landscape that shaped the figure that still for me made his
presence felt.
Strangely my contribution to this exhibition was
developed while I was an artist in residence in a village
outside of Beijing. I mention this because I had sent the
half finished pieces over there for my 3 month residency
to be completed. The circumstances: pollution, isolation,
sickness made the work I had sent look unresolved. They
had to go. I had to dig deeper. This was when I felt like
(at least on an emotional level) I could access Leichhardt
somewhat. Though he had successfully navigated the
mammoth journey thus far and made the terrifying
descent into Kakadu (what can only have felt like Eden),
his men resented him. He was alone in his achievement.
The further we followed this last leg of his journey to the
Coburg Peninsula, it felt to me at least like he was leaving
everything behind. Anglo Saxon values and expectations
seemed completely insignificant. For me his greatest
lesson is the respect he had for the land. He wasn’t
conquering and commanding. Like the Aboriginals he
learnt from, he was becoming a part of it.
Leichhardt Dreaming (2)
120 x 120 cm
oil on linen
2013
Leichhardt's Poems (1)
25 x 25 cm
pencil and watercolour on paper
2013
Leichhardt's Poems (3)
25 x 25 cm
pencil and watercolour on paper
2013
Leichhardt Healing (1)
120 x 120 cm
oil on linen
2013
