Form and feeling: artists’ studies of the twentieth century

Form and feeling: artists’ studies of the twentieth century explores the centrality of drawing to the artistic practice of British and Australian artists, including Stanley Spencer, William Dobell, Russell Drysdale and Frank Auerbach. Drawn from The State Art Collection, this exhibition brings together significant figurative oil paintings and their preparatory drawings – a number of which have never been shown before. Form and feeling is focused upon technique and process, exploring the differing approaches to line, shape, contour and materiality as these artists progress preliminary sketches into finished works. Form and feeling brings to the fore the politics of collecting in Australian public institutional history, wherein Modern British art was keenly collected – particularly after WWII. This exhibition explores the influence that these artists had upon the Australian art scene at the time and restages this influence for audiences today.