A look behind the official story and in the cracks of Australian modernism
Cover to AUSTRALIAN MODERN, published in 2014
Early in 2014 a project I contributed to was published in Brisbane. My role to present the story of modernism as it appeared in Adelaide after the Second World War. I wrote the first chapter of the book, “Shifting Paradigms”, which traced some examples of modern architecture, interior design and art in Adelaide in the 1950s. It featured work by the architect Brian Claridge, on whom I wrote a small monograph and an earlier report for the Architecture Museum at the University of South Australia, a pivotal figure in the advancement of modernism in South Australia. It also showed examples of mural art and public sculptures, and ambitious colour-music painting by my late father, Wladyslaw Dutkiewicz, dating from 1954. A significant part of my project referred to the 6th Australian Architectural Convention Exhibition, which was held in Botanic Park in June 1956. It featured work by several young architects interested in new building methods, materials and forms; and artworks by Wlad, Stan Ostoja-Kotkowski, Francis Roy Thompson and Voitre Marek. Stan remains the only artist among these people I have not published a monograph on – at this stage.
The book is still available, as far as I know, and has been sold through the Art Gallery of South Australia bookshop. The publisher is Chris Osborne, http://www.australianmodern.com.au
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- SJ Ostoja-Kotkowski, Mural, ETA factory, Renown Park, Adelaide photograph by Keith Neighbour, courtesy of the Architecture Museum, University of South Australia
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- SJ Ostoja-Kotkowski, Sculpture on golf theme, 6th Australian Architectural Convention Exhibition, Botanic Park, Adelaide, 1956 photograph by Keith Neighbour, courtesy the Architecture Museum, University of South Australia
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- Francis Roy Thompson, Untitled abstract, c.1958, oil, RSASA collection, Adelaide photograph by Adam Dutkiewicz
The Dutkiewicz Archive 