This education kit was produced for the Sulman Prize 2015 and presents children's labels from the exhibition along with questions and activities for students in K-12.
Click on an image for more information (including an artist statement, medium and dimensions) and to view the work in the Art Gallery of NSW prizes database.
Do you like to make up stories?
Catherine Abel has painted a character she has called Marigold. Catherine has imagined Marigold rushing into her library to find a particular book after spending a night at the opera. She is painted realistically with great attention to detail – from the tiny hairs on her fur stole to her smooth satiny dress.
What do you think the book could be about?
Questions and activities
Describe the way Marigold is posed on the chair. Does she look comfortable? What do you think she is thinking? Where is she seated? How do you think you would you feel in this space?
Do you think this is a contemporary scene or historical scene? Explain your response.
The title of the painting indicates that the scene is set 'after the opera'. Continue the story and write an account of what occurs in the next scene.
Look at this large painting of flowers.
Marcel Cousins has simplified the details and shapes of these flowers so they look like an advertisement rather than a realistic painting from nature. Limited colours, airbrushed lines and the size of the flowers make us focus on the pattern of the petals and leaves.
Would this painting look as effective if the flowers were small?
Questions and activities
What is your first impression of this artwork? Do the soft pastel colours affect your response? What impact do the black outlines have on your overall reading of the painting?
Research the process of airbrushing. Discuss the benefits and disadvantages of this technique.
Find images of street art that makes use of airbrushing. Compare them to this work by Marcel Cousins. Discuss the similarities and differences in class.
Have you ever played in the ball room at Ikea?
Many shopping centres and cafes have play areas for children and some, like Ikea, have ball rooms filled with brightly-coloured plastic balls. Rebecca Hastings has painted two children within circles surrounded by ball shapes as a comment on how these play areas can give parents some much-needed quiet time.
Do you think these children look like they are having fun?
Questions and activities
How has Rebecca Hastings created a sense of playfulness in this diptych?
Does the title affect the way you interpret the work? Discuss in class.
Use Photoshop to develop a twin set of portraits with a strong graphic impact. Experiment with using geometric shapes and a limited palette. Give thought to the title of the work.
List all of the different shops you can see in this busy street.
Max Mannix has painted a lively street scene as a reminder of the childhood shopping trips he took into town with his parents on Saturdays. Groups of people chat, children run and the whole street is alive with the hustle and bustle of different activities.
How many children can you spot?
Questions and activities
List the types of interactions you can see between different people in this painting. How have the figures been depicted? Is there anything missing in this busy street scene?
Describe Max Mannix's painting style. Is there a sense of nostalgia in this scene? Discuss in class.
Compare this scene to your own local shopping area. Identify the similarities and differences. Photograph your shopping area and use the images to develop a series of drawings.
Notice all of the houses and different things happening in them.
Robert Ryan has divided his canvas into sections and has filled each one with detailed scenes depicting both natural and man-made environments. The trees and plants in the corner sections look like they are being pushed out by the houses and people as the urban spaces take over nature.
What different types of animals can you see in the painting?
Questions and activities
Examine this painting up close then stand back. Describe what you can see from both vantage points.
What does 'subdivision' mean? Read the artist statement and consider how Robert Ryan has conveyed his message to the viewer.
Create a stylised aerial view of your local area. Develop a range of symbols to represent key elements.