Ned Kelly 1964

Editor: Here we have Sidney Nolan's "Ned Kelly," a striking image. The textured red block forming Kelly's helmet contrasts so strongly with the stark white background and the charcoal lines below. What's your take on this work? Curator: The process is key here. Nolan’s use of rudimentary materials elevates Kelly's status from outlaw to near-mythical figure. The helmet, almost a repurposed object itself, speaks to the ingenuity born of necessity and a specific social reality. The red is evocative -- of dried blood, of the Australian landscape, and of the economic privation of colonial life. Editor: So, the materials become metaphors? That's fascinating! Curator: Exactly. Nolan isn’t just depicting a historical figure; he’s using the very means of production to comment on labor, history and consumption within a specific colonial context. Editor: I see it now. The simplicity is deceptive. Curator: Right, it’s not just *what* he depicts, but *how* he depicts it that matters.