Bill Henson at the NGA
BILL Henson is not generally known for public pronouncements. His art usually speaks for him and for itself. Recent events have shifted the focus of public (media) interest in him, however, and it’s easy to imagine a shopping list would be closely scrutinised if it were his.
The fervid reaction to his appearance this week at the opening of the National Gallery’s latest major photographic exhibition was predictable, but still startling in its intensity. Camera crews from TV network news jostled for position, print reporters jostled back.
The exhibition, an extensive and historical survey of black and white photography titled Picture Paradise: Asia-Pacific photography 1840s-1940s, would not normally make a preliminary newslist even in the silly season, let alone achieve the roll-up that swamped the NGA. And for what?
Henson made a considered, learned and articulate speech that is approximately 1500 words in length. It will add to the pleasure and experience of viewing the exhibition. Not that you’d know that from media reports which, unless some coverage was missed (possible) consisted of a voice-over explaining to viewers who the mild-looking bearded geezer is and then a brief grab of him speaking.
Brief as in part of the final paragraph of his speech (!!) in which he said, “ … the greatness of art comes from the ambiguities, which is another way of saying it stops us from knowing what to think. It redeems us from a world of moralism and opinionation and claptrap. It stops us in our tracks as we are formulating the truths we think we believe in. It stops us and it makes us wonder.”
My emphasis on the few words above, because they’re the ones that stopped the telly crews and editors in their tracks. But it did not stop them and make them wonder. You, on the other hand, can do that by reading the rest of the speech here. It puts the final words in context and also contextualises a lot of other things too.
Go to the NGA’s website and follow the links to Picture Paradise to see more images from the exhibition. And plan a trip to Canberra to enjoy them for real. www.nga.gov.au/Home/08-WINTER/
Read Bill Henson's complete speech
