Painters Ben Quilty and John Olsen chat on what it is to place their careers regionally, to face depression (or not), and the role mentorship plays in shaping legacies.
Are painters Ben Quilty and John Olsen so dissimilar? Sure, they may be a generation (or two) apart, but they both engage with the world around them – its joys and its darker side – with a creative passion that is rivalled by few.
The pair met 15 years ago, and share a regular drink together. What do they chat about? ArtsHub spoke to them on the occasion of Olsen’s exhibition Goya’s Dog at Ngununggula, on what it is to place their careers regionally; facing depression (or not), and the role mentorship plays in shaping legacies.
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
