Post-war Australian and New Zealand ceramics

Component identifier:

Series 3

Content Summary:

In the years following World War II overseas ceramics began to exert their influence on Australian pottery style. Of significance in this period of change were the works of the English potter Bernard Leach (1887-1979) and Japanese artist Shoji Hamada (1894-1978).

In 1991 Timms was contracted to curate a show of works reflecting the influences of Leach and Hamada and the Japanese folk tradition on Australian post-war ceramics. The exhibition, provisionally titled 'The Great Exchange : use and development of tradition,' would examine the interchange of ideas, philosophies and techniques between Australia, Japan and England from the late 1940s onwards. Drawing on collections in Australia and overseas, it was proposed that the exhibition would open at the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery in August 1992, then tour nationally. Unfortunately, after planning had reached an advanced stage, the Australia Council withdrew its funding.

This series comprises a sequence of files containing background notes and information relating to the proposed exhibition and the work of Leach and Hamada, including handwritten notes, photographs, catalogues, photocopied reviews and articles. Also appearing in the folders is correspondence with the Ballarat Art Gallery and other lending galleries, loan agreements and letters exchanged with the Australia Council.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The papers of curator, gallery director and writer Peter Timms were purchased by the National Library in April 2000.

Names:

Peter Timms

Contents

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