Kelly Head III 1972

Curator: Sidney Nolan's "Kelly Head III" makes quite an impression. The vibrant colors against that stark black background feel almost violently energetic. Editor: Indeed. And that's intriguing, considering Nolan's long engagement with the Ned Kelly mythos, especially its resonance within Australian national identity. Curator: Exactly. The image is based on Ned Kelly’s iconic helmet, but the lurid palette undermines any simple heroic reading, doesn’t it? Are we looking at a symbol of resistance, or of the state's violent suppression? Editor: Or perhaps both? The Kelly story is always mediated by the politics of its telling. Nolan was deeply invested in this myth and how it can reflect on socio-political issues of the time. Curator: It's a striking piece. The boldness of the colors and the dark background create an image that is difficult to forget. Editor: Nolan's artwork makes us consider how narratives of resistance and rebellion are made, and who controls them.