GOULBURN born artist Guy Warren celebrated his 95th birthday on the day his latest exhibition, Genesis of a Painter, opened at the SH Ervin Gallery in Sydney.
Warren was born on April 16, 1921. He left school at 14 to pursue his love of art and worked at The Bulletin magazine, starting his formal art training at the JS Watkins Art School.
He volunteered for the AIF in 1941 and fell in love with the rainforests of Queensland and the mysterious beauty of Bouganville, which led to a fascination with nature’s camouflage and questions of existence.
After the war, as a rehabilitating soldier, Warren studied at the National Art School, and in 1950 married and moved with his wife to England, where they stayed for eight years.
He became a close friend of art scholar and critic Norbert Lynton, who later wrote a long introduction to the artist’s monograph In Search of Gaia.
Another intriguing encounter was with a young David Attenborough. After seeing a BBC TV production featuring decorated native dancers of the New Guinea Highlands, Warren wrote to the BBC requesting some stills, and was put in touch with Attenborough, who agreed to loan many photos in exchange for a painting.
The current Sydney exhibition, which runs until May 29, is curated by Art Gallery of NSW Emeritus Curator of Australian Art Barry Pearce and was inspired by a visit to the artist’s Leichhardt studio.
It comprises paintings and works on paper from the early days in London as well as Warren’s most current work, with paintings sourced from public and private collections.
The SH Ervin Gallery is open Tuesday to Friday 11am-5pm at the National Trust Centre, Watson Rd, Observatory Hill.
The Rocks. Admission is $7 general and $5 seniors. Phone 9258-0173, www.shervingallery.com.au
