EXHIBITION: PAINTING THE ROCKS
The Rocks were once described as the, “Cradle of Australia.” They became a demolition site during the early 20th century as the state sought to clear the slums in response to an outbreak of the bubonic plague. Painting the Rocks: The Loss of Old Sydney displays the work of government commissioned artists who rushed to record the historic precinct before it was partly destroyed. The paintings are romantic and idealistic, Sydney Long depicting expansive blue skies, smooth streets and neat, colourful buildings without a hint of the dirt and grime that gave this working class area its unique character. However, Harold Cazneaux’s photographs provide an insight into the stark reality of this world. In Argyle Cut, 1902, a little girl’s eyes pierce the lens as she and her companions stand beneath an immense structure of rocks walls and bridges. ‘Urban warrior’ Jack Mundey launched the exhibition and book last Wednesday night. The former union boss has been credited with helping to save The Rocks with the green ban placed on a $500 million development project in the early 1970s. The exhibition gives a voice to the gritty yet fascinating history of The Rocks, in Mundey’s words, a place from which, “The whole history of Sydney stems”.
Until Nov 28, Museum of Sydney, 37 Phillip St, Sydney, $5-10, 9251 5988, hht.net.au
BY MILLICENT CAFFREY
