ART IN AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15520, 30 January 1914, Page 4

ART IN AUSTRALIA.

BERTRAM MACKENNAL'S VIEW ! A KINDLY * CLIMATE " v f '• 1 4-\ _____ ; |.?r Tfrom OTO own correspondent.] '* V fi~ L *:& * j"?'' j • : London, December 19. 7 : I At a dinner given in his honour ..-by ; the Authors'»Club, Mr, Bertram Maekennal, A.R.A., the Australia* sculptor, made a I most interesting - speech ,• on ■ the future of I art, in the Common-wealth. I " When one thinks how , ally these Australian States are busy developing their natural resources,, it is wonderful that art |is considered at all," he said. "I do not | think they are . behind England in placing I statues in the park, and, where is | a site, in the city.,,A" statue* or rather a bronze - statue, erected - in Melbourne or Sydney, whatever its art value, gains in beauty year by year. ' Whether it is the near vicinity of the sea, or the climate, which adds so much -I- do not know, but the bronze develops ,a very beautiful patina, quite an antique green. You know in London ,■ wo, can secure - this resuit. If the sculptor managed to ■ produce it in his studio it' would „ not last «ix months when placed out of doors in this climate. So at least we have in - Australia a proper home for sculpture. "We may raise men who will give us ftreat thoughts ' and works, imbued with ne instinct : of a new people, in a new land. We must build .up a .great and noble architecture before we can expect the sister arts to ' exist happily. It is architecture which creates the demand for other arts. And in this art we have not yet taken the right step. The climate j should dictate the style of architecture - both in' 'our _ dwellinghouses and public buildings. < It is a country where'- you require shade. There is; the finger pointing to the type and style required; but it is generally unheeded except by the placing of iron verandahs; along.. some oi the streets, which only succeeded. in making these streets hideous they also attract" the sun and hold the heat.

■' We shall , yet ; develop a school of I a-chitects born in the country who wil] design their buildings . with colonnades ; and loggias, and I am sure there will bb great' introduction of colour.- It must, and will when the native-born begins to ask himself: Why not! What a chance Australia has with her proposed new capital! May it be conceived with, beauty ..as well as usefulness. Sculpture in our times, and especially in this country, appears to me m the guise of a divorced woman. Bight back in civilisation, and ail through . the centuries,. she was the . happy - wife of architecture contented to adorn the one who supported her. Ido not know who came in to spoil this perfect marriage, birt I think it was due to.the new great industries which grew up evey where. We see the result to-day, that an architect designs niches and pedestals on and about Ms buildings, and knows they will never be filled or occupied. Most of them were never intended , to . be otherwiso than barren. Whenever I see these,' barren niches I always think the sculptor has a good, cause of breach of promise against the architect. (Laughter.) . May we sculptors in the future get, heavy . damages for this breach, or, happier still, a restitution of conjugal rights." "(Laughter.)