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ARTHUR BOYD: A Life
Arthur Boyd's legacy is a collection of masterpieces that define the history of Australian art in the last century. Based on over six years of meticulous research and hundreds of interviews, Darleen Bungey sweeps us into the intimate circle of one of Australia's most fascinating families.
576 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 15, 2022
Arthur Boyd is arguably one of greatest artists produced by Australia. Not many know that he is also related to Sidney Nolan. All throughout his illustrious career, Boyd was inspired by many great themes in Australia and England. The author and friend Janet McKenzie, in this book, has paid a wonderful tribute to Boyd. This book is a rare find and guests always notice it in my house and always ask as to how I came to acquire it. I never thought I would have been able to find this book at a Pakistani bookstore www.chapters.pk so I was pleasantly surprised to see such a fine publication available in my area. If you love Arthur Boyd's work than I suggest you acquire this book.
August 3, 2014
For the most part this is a beautifully written piece - engaging, imaginative and well researched - skilfully providing the reader with as much information as possible to guess at Arthur Boyd's troubled mind via the "Jungian telegraph" expressions in his art.
I was a relative ignoramus in terms of all things Boyd when I began reading this biography, and I was almost overwhelmed with its intricate detail. Happily however this detail is balanced well by an interesting story of a fascinating and unusual life and a remarkable legacy of art. I confess I don't find most of Arthur Boyd's early work aesthetically pleasing to look at, but having read this book - with its help to decode the colours, symbols, and dark creatures that dominate his work - I certainly appreciate it more.
My only complaints about the book include a couple of tedious episodes in the final third, a handful of missed storytelling opportunities, an unfortunately obtuse style of managing tension and release, and the difficulty of remembering the squillion characters and their relationships to the Boyd family. Although these complaints are not major readability problems other than to leave me wishing there were a glossary and timeline reference as an appendix to the book.
I greatly admired the author's ability to balance and construct a predominantly linear story, integrating themed content out of sequence without breaking the flow of the narrative.
It was a long book though, so I'd suggest you might only want to read it if you really want to know more about Arthur Boyd, in which case it was really very good.
I was a relative ignoramus in terms of all things Boyd when I began reading this biography, and I was almost overwhelmed with its intricate detail. Happily however this detail is balanced well by an interesting story of a fascinating and unusual life and a remarkable legacy of art. I confess I don't find most of Arthur Boyd's early work aesthetically pleasing to look at, but having read this book - with its help to decode the colours, symbols, and dark creatures that dominate his work - I certainly appreciate it more.
My only complaints about the book include a couple of tedious episodes in the final third, a handful of missed storytelling opportunities, an unfortunately obtuse style of managing tension and release, and the difficulty of remembering the squillion characters and their relationships to the Boyd family. Although these complaints are not major readability problems other than to leave me wishing there were a glossary and timeline reference as an appendix to the book.
I greatly admired the author's ability to balance and construct a predominantly linear story, integrating themed content out of sequence without breaking the flow of the narrative.
It was a long book though, so I'd suggest you might only want to read it if you really want to know more about Arthur Boyd, in which case it was really very good.
April 16, 2012
I think I love Arthur's painting even more now. He was such a gentle and generous man.
I wish my work ethic was as strong as his. So prolific!
A particularly in depth look at the artist and his family.
I wish my work ethic was as strong as his. So prolific!
A particularly in depth look at the artist and his family.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews