'Imagining Ned - The Story of Ned Kelly and the Art He Inspires' will be on display exclusively at Bendigo Art Gallery from 28 March to 28 June 2015.
This major exhibition will explore the incredible influence Ned Kelly has had on the visual arts.
Kelly remains a highly mythologised character in Australian history. Some view him as a murderous villain and outlaw, while others proclaim him a misunderstood folk hero – an Australian Robin Hood.
His story has captured the imaginations of Australian artists and writers over the last century and this unique exhibition will showcase items drawn from several private and public collections, including historical items and major artworks rarely accessible to the public.
One of the highlights of this exhibition is previously unseen artworks by Sidney Nolan from private collections.
Sidney Nolan was a sixth generation Australian who was proud of his Irish ancestry. His grandfather had been a police sergeant in the party who pursued the Kelly gang at Beechworth in the 1870s. Nolan produced his first Kelly series of works in the 1940s, exploring the themes of love, violence, betrayal and injustice, and depicting the Australian landscape in a thoroughly modern way. In Nolan's opinion "Kelly was not half rebel, half criminal, he was a rebel reformer."
Complementing Nolan's works are various paintings, drawings, photographic works, film related material, sculptures and ceramics by the likes of Norman Lindsay, Arthur Boyd, Juan Davila and Adam Cullen.
The Gallery is also grateful to the numerous private and institutional lenders for their generous support in lending significant objects from their collections for this exhibition, including Ned Kelly's iconic armour, the death mask and the Jerilderie letter from the State Library of Victoria.
This is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the life, myth and legend of Ned Kelly and also view and appreciate the extraordinary art he inspired.
Tickets for the exhibition will be available from Gallery Reception daily.
Tickets are priced as follows:
Open: Tuesday – Sunday and Public Holidays
For more information on this exhibition, please visit the Bendigo Art Gallery website.