'Imagining Ned' at Bendigo Art Gallery

'Imagining Ned' at Bendigo Art Gallery

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Posted 2015-04-04 by Melissa Duffyfollow

Sat 28 Mar 2015 - Sun 28 Jun 2015

Recognise this hipster? Our most famous Australian beard is currently the subject of a new exhibition, Imagining Ned at the Bendigo Art Gallery. Despite him being hanged at the Old Melbourne Gaol way back in 1880, you'll still see city cafes today filled with dedicated look-alikes, sipping lattes, wearing the ultimate hipster accessory – the Ned Kelly beard. But his image and story has inspired more than facial hair, footballers' tattoos and helmet shaped novelty letterboxes. Prior to his hanging, at age 25, he was already a household name. Since his death, his face has graced the covers of magazines, comic books and even collectable trading cards packaged inside Hoadley's Chocolates. Numerous examples of these plus an impressive collection of photos, news clippings, books and artwork have been assembled in Bendigo from both public and rarely seen private collections.[BREAK]


Some of the most well known Kelly memorabilia greets you at the exhibition entrance including the armour worn during the final siege at Glenrowan (weighing in at an uncomfortable 41 kgs), the Pentridge Prison register of 18 year old clean shaven Ned, and the death mask for which, just an hour after his hanging, the infamous beard had to be shaved off. Also on loan from the Public Record Office Victoria is a petition with over 30,000 signatures from Kelly supporters, some of which also took to the streets to protest in an attempt to save the young bushranger's life - reminiscent our current day efforts for convicted Australians on death row.Ned's story has also made it to the big screen on several occasions. Much like our fascination with the Underbelly television series depicting the lives of our recent notorious criminals, in 1906 cinema goers could not get enough of the antics of Ned and his fellow law breaking bushrangers. They were the subject of what is now recognised by UNESCO as the world's first feature film – The Story of the Kelly Gang. Remaining fragments of this film have been pieced together and is screening at the exhibition. But an exploration into the impact of the iconic bushranger would not be complete without including artist Sidney Nolan, famous for his Kelly series of paintings with Ned's striking black armour set against the barren Australian outback. A significant collection of his work along with fellow artist Albert Tucker dominates the main room of the exhibition, with other contemporary Australian and International artists in adjoining spaces.[BREAK]
Also on display are several pages of Ned's Jerilderie letter , dictated to his friend Joe Byrne, in which he declares "I have never interfered with any person unless they deserved it." It's a passionate and poetic account of events, and provides details of the great unrest at the time between the Irish and the police who persecuted them.However in contrast to being the convicted murderer of three police officers he was also a son protective of his mother and siblings after the death of his father; a rescuer of a young boy who nearly drowned and maybe even a romantic as indicated by the "Dear Kate, you are in my heart" inscription on his rifle.Ned Kelly is forever embedded in Australian folklore yet we are still unable to unanimously decide if he is one of our heroes or most violent criminals. But Imagining Ned presents us with facts and artefacts so we can go on deliberating, long after the hipster beard revival has past.With Bendigo now part of the Myki network the gallery is an easy and picturesque 2 hour train ride from Melbourne's Southern Cross Station. But if you would like to stay a little longer The Schaller Studio , the gallery's official hotel partner, is offering a 'Stay and See' package. In addition to your ticket to Imagining Ned, enjoy a local bottle of red or white wine and a late checkout so you can sleep in. (From $149 per night.)


#tourist_attractions
#history
#galleries
#exhibitions
#escape_the_city
#day_trips
#art
#victoria
#march
#april
#may
#june
!date 28/03/2015 -- 28/06/2015
%wnmelbourne
143836 - 2023-06-13 20:34:54

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