Kelly and Red Horse 1972

Curator: Right now, we're looking at Sir Sidney Nolan's intriguing work, "Kelly and Red Horse," currently residing in the Tate collection. Editor: It has a stark, almost unsettling quality. The red horse is so vibrant, while that square-headed figure looks almost robotic. Curator: That figure is Ned Kelly, an infamous bushranger in Australian history, often depicted in Nolan's paintings. The landscape in the background feels both beautiful and desolate. Editor: I’m struck by the strange blend of myth and reality. Kelly is a folk hero, yes, but his story is steeped in violence and rebellion against authority. Nolan captures this tension beautifully. It’s as if he’s hinting at the inherent strangeness within legends. Curator: Exactly! The seemingly simple forms belie the complex narrative beneath the surface. And that red horse, an almost feverish symbol in this harsh Australian environment. Editor: It's true, the raw emotion within this piece lingers. Nolan made us feel the legend.