Lectures at Lunchtime

Last Tuesday 28th March, the Arts Department was privileged to have Mr Howard Nathan KC visit and present to a group of staff, parents, and students eager to learn of his unique perspectives and experiences. In addition to his distinguished legal career, Mr Nathan is a proud supporter of the arts and a committed philanthropist, having long collected artwork and developed a passion for contemporary art and emerging Australian artists. Mr Nathan is also a strong supporter of arts education, having been involved in various initiatives and organisations promoting the arts, as well as donating generously of both his time and finances to non-profit organisations and charities dedicated to the arts. 

Over the years, Mr Nathan’s collection of artworks has grown to an impressive mass of pieces purchased or gifted from artists with whom he has a personal connection, or from artists he simply admires and finds fascinating. We were lucky enough to view and discuss three of Mr Nathan’s favourite pieces from his collection in a session which was fascinatingly immersive and interactive. The session began with encouragement for people to move forward in the Black Box. Mr Nathan is insistent that his presentations act as a discussion, with him eager to hear our impressions and opinions just as much as we were eager to hear his. 

The first artwork we viewed was a wooden tondo sculptural piece. The outside of the piece was decorated in figurative and colourful linework while the inside of the circle protruded outward with the hollow callus of a red gum tree trunk, appearing almost like a volcano, while the centre featured a yellow sphere that was likened to an egg yolk. After much consideration and discussion Mr Nathan explained that the piece was a local, westernised portrayal of the gold rush era and the Indigenous painting style, featuring the red gum as an element of pure Australiana. 

The second piece was another tondo, this time an Indigenous artwork made from cross-sections of coloured bulrushes commissioned by Mr Nathan to symbolise fire and reprisal. The piece was captivating in its similar local and Australian atmosphere, made from natural materials and producing imagery that was altered depending on the perspective from which you were observing it. 

The final artwork we viewed was a contrasting framed print of a satirized courtroom scene, depicting the Victorian Supreme Court with Mr Nathan sitting as judge within the piece. The artwork featured intricate linework and bold areas of red, acting as focal points to the comical elements of the work, the piece acting harmoniously as a striking social commentary as well as a vivid contrast to the previous two artworks.

Zoe Cuthbertson (12 Jones)

On the 28th of March, students and teachers gathered in the BlackBox to listen to Mr Howard Nathan KC’s story. Nathan has a distinguished legal career and is an eager supporter of any aspect of the arts, during his lecture, he showed three different pieces of astonishing artworks. 

The first piece he showed was a strong Aboriginal artwork of a shield, embroidered with gold, and he asked the crowd what they saw. There was a range of answers and he explained how any of the answers we gave were all valuable as art is how you interpret it. During this, we learnt about what it means to see art and how important it is in today’s society. 

Once we went through all the pieces of artwork, we went to asking questions. I asked about what age someone had to be to get to the level of these art works. He responded with a very important answer, which most students should hear: “anytime”. As I am a novice art student it is very important to hear these words, that at any time you have the power to create art. Overall, the lecture was amazing and I am very excited to go to more of these lectures being held at Girton.

Bailey Dolan (11 Aherne)