Burke and Wills Expedition III 1975

Editor: This is Sir Sidney Nolan’s Burke and Wills Expedition III. It's pretty striking. It has figures, a body of water, trees... I'm curious about Nolan's process. What can you tell me about the materiality and making of this artwork? Curator: Absolutely. Consider the printmaking tradition here. Nolan's choice to use this medium democratizes the image, making it more accessible to a wider audience. How does this impact our understanding of the Burke and Wills story? Editor: That’s interesting. So, the process of printing itself—the multiple originals—speaks to a broader engagement with the historical narrative? Curator: Precisely. And the layering of inks, the textures created – all contribute to a sense of the harsh Australian landscape and the arduous journey of these explorers. It prompts us to think about the labor involved, both in the expedition and the artmaking. Editor: I see what you mean. It makes me reconsider the whole story. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. It’s all about looking closely at the means of production and how they shape our understanding.