Bronze statue of the Discus Thrower in the Army Park, National Glyprothique. Photo:
Georgios Liakopoulos, Wikimedia Commons.
Yes, it’s true. There was a time when artists and sculptors were placed on equal footing alongside sportspeople, and competed in the Olympics.
And, we are not talking about gladiator times – although sculpture and literature was a key part of the original Greek Games.
It was, however, with the revival of the modern Olympics, led by Parisian, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, that art got a second look-in. It was a hard-fought battle – worthy of gold itself – but in 1912 arts got across the line, with the first medals awarded.
Gina Fairley is ArtsHub's Senior Contributor, after 12 years in the role as National Visual Arts Editor. She has worked for extended periods in America and Southeast Asia, as gallerist, arts administrator and regional contributing editor for a number of magazines, including Hong Kong based Asian Art News and World Sculpture News. She is an Art Tour leader for the AGNSW Members, and lectures regularly on the state of the arts. She is based in Mittagong, regional NSW.
Instagram: fairleygina
