MAJOR WORK IN PROGRESS



The Vision of a Fair Nation

Background art for a work in progress titled "BENNELONG DREAMING (After Coburn)"
Artist: Neville Williams

Base art inspired by John Coburn's Curtain of the Sun - Sydney Opera House.

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CONCEPT VISUAL

Artwork Title:"BENNELONG DREAMING (After Coburn)"
(CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE CONCEPT VISUAL)


The centre of the artwork features a new Australian Flag…"The New Standard"
I have had a go at designing a new National Flag. My flag is workable.
It is far too early though to reveal the design publicly.
For this or any other National Flag to have value and meaning it needs to be earned.
When we earn something we appreciate it.

The Party is just beginning.








(EARLIER VERSION OF SCULPTURE SHOWN HERE 
ARTWORK IS NOW REVISIONED)


"Pulcinello"(Punchinello) (2021)
Artist: Neville Williams

MEDIA: Fired Clay, polished brass rod, 
lacquer, gold leaf, indelible ink 
on varnished wooden base.
SIZE: 51cm (H)  Base:18.5cm square
$400


"What can you do,
Punchinello, funny fellow?
What can you do,
Punchinello, funny you? 
We can do that too,
Punchinello, funny fellow,
We can do it, too,
Punchinello, funny you!"

 

Choose not to be a clown. 
Find the harlequin in you and then you'll know YOO. NW☺︎

FINISHED VERSION
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

TAP GALLERY - FIRST PRIZE OUTLOUD ART SHOW

Part of the iconic Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras



An overview of the artwork 

"WHEN THE SPIRIT OF BENNELONG RETURNS"


Panel (4) detail “When the Spirit of Bennelong returns”©️(1991-1999)
Artist: Neville Williams & many others
Total Size: 510cm W x 110cm H x 5cm D 
(4 panels + 1 maquette sculpture)
Medium: Mixed Media


Following are Thomas Keneally's words 
from Panel 4 of the complete artwork (shown below). 
Mr. Keneally did mention that Peter Garrett had input here.


“WHEREAS THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE ARE DRAWN
FROM A RICH DIVERSITY OF CULTURES
YET ARE ONE IN THEIR DEVOTION 
TO THE AUSTRALIAN TRADITION OF EQUALITY
THE FREEDOM OF THE PERSON
AND THE DIGNITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL;

WHEREAS AUSTRALIA IS AN ANCIENT LAND 
PREVIOUSLY OWNED AND OCCUPIED
BY ABORIGINAL PEOPLE
WHO NEVER CEDED OWNERSHIP;

WHEREAS AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE LOOK TO SHARE FAIRLY
IN THE PLENTY OF THE COMMONWEALTH;

WHEREAS AUSTRALIA IS A CONTINENT 
OF IMMENSE EXTENT AND UNIQUE IN THE WORLD
DEMANDING AS OUR HOME LAND OUR RESPECT
DEVOTION AND WISE MANAGEMENT.”

Thomas Keneally
PROPOSED PREAMBLE TO A NEW AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTION
Wording reprinted here with Mr. Keneally's expressed permission.

This complete artwork was given to and kindly received as a gift by 
NAISDA – National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association.
There were many contributors to the artwork.

 CLICK ON IMAGE TO SEE MORE DETAIL




HEAD OUT OF THE SAND



BONDI MIRAGE (Summer 2022)

ARTIST: Neville Williams 

©️Arts Law Australia

Size: 177cm (W) x 122cm (H)

Media: Mixed Media on stretched canvas (unframed)

PRIVATE COLLECTION



We have our heads in the sand for what is on the horizon. 

In short what appears to be the case is that we have a reluctance to share 

the responsibilities of a youth nation.


We want to continue to play in the sand pit of life building our castles and laughing in the Sun. 

That’s not seeing a bigger picture of reality.


Look around. The sound principles of planning for our future have been forgotten. 

The focus on our humanity is being lost and as a result so will we.


You can’t “whack” a band aid on our future. 

The future has a way of rearing up when you don’t expect it and biting us on the backside.


We can either put an overarching vision in place or face the consequences of a volatile world that doesn’t give a tinkers toss about you and your family’s wellbeing.


In short we can’t live on a sunny island in the Pacific ignoring the rest of the world. 

That is the bigger picture. We need to embrace this reality.


Previous Governments have not given us vision and so it was/is our duty to put people in charge who will plan for our future. A warning is being made not only to governments but the corporates and also each of us as individuals. If we don't set our own plan forward most assuredly others will.


Real leaders know what is needed to initiate vision. 

You can bet that quietly they have a huge question mark above their heads pondering whether you would help or support them in doing this. 


Wanting our problems to go away and sort themselves out is not being realistic.


It all comes down to work. There’s no other way. 

For a leisure programmed nation that appears to be anathema. 

That is why leaders hesitate. That is why too many others hesitate. Get used to being out of your comfort zone. The only choice is whether yoo want to be in charge of your life direction or whether you are going to let others drag you screaming in their decided direction.


Joe Biden talked about finding a backbone. 


If you want a future that makes you happy then you are going to have to make it happen yourself.


We need a vision taking us forward. 

If we keep treading water we will drown. Neville ☺︎






⚪️🔴🟠🟡🟢🔵🟣⚫️


NO PROPS NEEDED JUST A SOLID FOUNDATION




"LIBERTÉ - I AM MY OWN FLAG"©️ [1997]

Artist: Neville Williams

Size: 75cm(H) with flagstaff 

Media: Fired clay, bitumen, lacquer with wooden base

$1,200


The cracks are intentionally left. 

Liberty is a fragile thing requiring constant vigilance.



Originally this figure carried a broken flagstaff and I never really understood why. I do now.


If you know yourself yoo don’t need to carry any flag or symbol to prove self worth. Neither do yoo need anyone or anything else to prop yoo up. You’ve arrived. It’s as simple as that.


And then too it is true you never stop learning about YOO.


Plenty though need inspiration or a pointer forward.


Is it too pointed to ask where is the Flag of Surrender in our lives? NW☺︎



LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY







PIC: From the artist's 2000 community art show 
titled  "LIBERTÉ - An Exhibition of Harlequins"



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Title: LIBERTÉ (1999)

(also logo design from 2000 Exhibition)

Artist: Neville Williams

Size: 51cm (W) x 75cm (H)

Media: Charcoal, Conté crayon 

and pastels on paper (unframed)

POA


This is the first of seven very similar drawings 

that were produced as a series 

and exhibited at my solo show (with the help of others) 

during the AIDS crisis. 

One tribute for each friend lost to AIDS.

I kept the original drawing shown above but the past is now gone 

and it is time to move forward and pass the baton on!


We all face adversity at different points in our life 

and this may come in many different forms. 

Rising above the hardships that may be visited upon us 

is most surely a challenge. That is something of an understatement when we look around our world.


This drawing is intended to provide inspiration to anyone 

who might be facing a struggle in their lives. 


The only banner worth carrying is for ❤️.   


LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY 

brothers & sisters in life. NW☺︎




STOP, LOOK & LEAP




The Old and the New (1986)©️

Artist: Neville Williams
Size: 100cm W x 130cm H
Medium: Mixed Media and Collage on particle board, box framed
The original artwork no longer exists.


This artwork was selected for exhibition 
in the 1986 Sydney Morning Herald Art Prize.

Ah yes the journey to a better Australia is a long and winding road.
It's probably good that you can't make out most of the players 
on this stage as most of them have moved on.
There's a whole another cast with a different story line 
to take us forward now. 
You are one of the stellar cast members.

Truth is the luxury of the long and winding road of 1986
has now passed and we are looking at the more immediate message 
evident in the top portion of the artwork. i.e. "STOP, LOOK & LEAP"

As a point of interest in the artwork the red light 
on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge was powered to flash on and off. 
- Neville ☺︎


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TO READ ARTWORK SYNOPSIS CLICK ON IMAGE





This artwork contains 
a special Olympian's 'surrender' baton
inside of which is a 'model vision' 
or 'STORY FOR AUSTRALIA'.



(The public use of the STAN&PETE emojis is subject to the good and right support of many.)

“Vision costs on many levels. 
When we are prepared to pay on many levels 
we’ll not only have a visionary plan
but a visionary plan in action."

- Quote from the Synopsis of the artwork 
A 'model vision' for Sydney, NSW, Australia and the world. 
Artist: Neville Williams

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald Letters Column 7 Sept. 2015



"Yesterday When I Was Young*"

(CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE)


Title: Atlantis (1997) 
 A reminiscence on when I was young.
Artist: Neville Williams

©️Arts Law Australia

Size: 60cm H x 103cm L x 11cm D (Approx)

Media: Fired Clay, porcelain paint, oil, varnish on wood with pine frame

$1000



I have been reminiscing on my youth lately and, too, feeling a bit sorry for myself.

This Artwork itself (recently reworked) is inspired by one of the big dance parties of the 90's held in Sydney and reminds me of those heady days of that generation of our youth now gone.

The lyrics and link (following) of Charles Aznavour's wonderfully soulful song 
"Yesterday When I Was Young" say it well. - Neville ☺︎

* Link here to hear the English version of the Song performed by Aznavour.


ON THE JOURNEY TO CELEBRATE LIFE


Artist Self Portrait (1991)©️
Size: 120cm H x 130cm W
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Artwork held in Artist's archives





Artist's Note:
Truth is when I painted this picture I didn't feel very loveable.
It was a low period in my life. Year 1 Art School 1991.
I had to really struggle to find any shades of colour at this time.

Oscar Wilde through a character in one of his plays says it poetically:-
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”

My interpretation of what he is saying is that we are not here to master life. 
We need to let life master us. Not sure though that Oscar would have seen it that way!

We can fight it.
We can want everything to be the way we want "it" to be whether we're talking
about ourselves or everything around us. Control freaks. In charge.
But we're not.

The happiest people I've known and know 
accept their place and walk with life.

We need to learn to celebrate life. NW☺︎




WELCOME TO MARDI GRAS



 A NEW KID ON THE BLOCK©️(1992)
Artist: Neville Williams
Size: Approx. 80cm W x 110cm H
Medium: Acrylic, collage on board
Work exhibited in the Mardi Gras Community Art Exhibition (circa 1993)
Artwork held in Artist's Archives


Jeffrey in this artwork amply exemplified the new Australian. 
And this is not necessarily a reference to his country of origin.
But maybe his cultural heritage does help.

What I'm saying is that Jeffrey had the courage, strength, capacity, resilience 
and the motivation to act and make an impact on his world.
He certainly wasn't blaming anyone else for his lot in life.


🔴











Study for “Calvi and the Guides”©️ (circa 1995)
Size: Approx. 70cm W x 50cm H
Medium: Egg carton cardboard collage, gold leaf, 
acrylic on canvas board, framed
PRIVATE COLLECTION


This is a metaphorical portrait of people as flowers.
Here we have bunches of beautiful roses.
Roses quite often come with both love and thorns.

Some though take the time, care and pay attention to detail 
by removing the thorns before presenting their bouquet.
John Calvi is that sort of a person.


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