‘National treasure’, ‘legend,’ ‘inspiration’. These were just some of the reactions from my Instagram followers when I posted that I would be interviewing Guy Warren.
Guy is about to turn 100 years old. He has no less than 5 shows opening this year. But he is also plain spoken, practical, down to earth and modest. In typical style he seemed pleased when I told him of the Instagram reaction, but he quickly changed the subject.
Guy has had an extraordinary career. He has won numerous awards including the Archibald prize, exhibited in over 50 solo shows and a phenomenal 6 survey shows (with more to come this year), and received two honorary doctorates, the Order of Australia and the Australia Medal. His work is included in many public, private and corporate collections across the world.
Although his paintings include portraiture and abstraction, much of his work is concerned with the landscape. His paintings reflect his interest in the idea that we humans belong to and are part of the landscape. This is a view which he formed when posted in Bougainville in World War II and it has echoed through his work down the decades.
The fact that Guy will soon be turning 100 meant that I was one of many requesting an interview. Even so, he was generous with his time and shared his recollections of the Great Depression and WWII, of the tumultuous changes in the artworld in the 50s and 60s, and of his travels to Alice Springs, New Guinea and London. We talk about the successes but also a couple of regrets.
To hear the podcast episode click on ‘play’ beneath the above feature photo.
You can see excerpts from this conversation in a short video below.
Upcoming shows
- ‘The 100th year’, King Street Gallery on William, Sydney, 16 March to 10 April 2021
- ‘From the Mountain to the Sky: Guy Warren drawings’, National Centre for Drawing, National Art School, Sydney, 17 April – 22 May
- Gallery Lane Cove, Sydney, survey show, date TBA
- University of Wollongong Gallery, Wollongong, date TBA
- Solo show, Nicholas Thompson Gallery, Melbourne, 30 November to 18 December
Links to things and people we talk about in this episode
- Guy Warren at King Street Gallery on William
- Guy Warren at Nicholas Thompson Gallery
- Tony Tuckson
- Klaus Friedeberger
- Erwin Fabian
- Fred Williams
- Bert Flugelman
- Ian Fairweather
- Joanna Logue
- David Attenborough
Image courtesy of King Street Gallery on William and the artist
Image courtesy of King Street Gallery on William and the artist
Image courtesy of King Street Gallery on William and the artist
Image: National Gallery of Australia Collection
Winner of the Archibald Prize 1985
Image: Art Gallery of NSW website
Image: Canberra Museum and Gallery collection
Image: Art Gallery of NSW website
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another ripper… thanks Maria!
Thanks for listening Lisa!
What a wonderful Aussie character, a true blue soldier and so sophisticated, intelligent and free.
I loved how I got to travel back in time with him as if I was the one walking on the goats track to visit Ian Fairweather!
Brilliant interview and I could laugh with Guy because of his good sense of humour. It was so lovely and most of all very humbling.
Thanks so much for that lovely message Holly! M
Fabulous! Thanks Maria & Guy Warren. Surely some institution will step up to collect and keep his and Friedeberger’s works as a record of their remarkable adventure together.
Thanks Sue. I hope so too – they should be kept together! Thanks for listening Mx
What an enjoyable interview. Would love to chat with him. Happy Birthday to you Sir and a good year ahead
Regards
Colin Pennock
Thanks Colin! Mx