Australian Inspiration

Open:

8 Jul – 27 Sep 2015

Venue:

Exhibition Galleries

The unique beauty of Australia's native flora and fauna has long inspired artists and designers. The earliest natural history drawings of the waratah were used to document a new species. A century later there was a more decorative interpretation. Illustrations of koalas by Dorothy Wall, Norman Lindsay and Ida Rentoul Outhwaite reflect a society which had begun to define its cultural identity through native fauna. And sketches, models and contemporary artworks of the Sydney Opera House show how it evolved from a functional design to become a cultural icon.

Drawing on the Library’s rich collections, this exhibition focuses on how the waratah, the koala and Australia’s most recognizable building, the Sydney Opera House, have become invaluable sources of inspiration and design.