Dobell in New Guinea

In 1949, at the invitation of Sir Edward Hallstrom, and again in 1950, the artist Sir William Dobell visited Papua New Guinea.

During Dobell’s visits he took over 175 photographs on 35mm black and white film as well as 35mm colour slides. Many of his photographs would later become drawings and paintings.

In this exhibition view a collection of these photographs taken by Dobell during his travels. Dobell described the New Guinea highlands as ‘heaven on earth’ and he later told writer Colin Simpson:

‘First of all, what appealed to me was the dignity of the people – a surprising dignity. They had character that I didn’t expect…I feel that anything that I have done has been done by some other artist, but these subjects have not been done. I can get something entirely new…’

Free entry