Botany Bay

Artist Gordon Syron (1941)

Date2012

Object number00054535

NamePainting

MediumUnframed oil on stretched canvas

DimensionsDisplay dimensions: 610 × 1080 × 20 mm
Overall: 612 × 1084 × 20 mm

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionA painting titled 'Botany Bay' by Gordon Syron. The work depicts a night view of Botany Bay as it was in 1770 with the full moon to the upper left corner and the Southern Cross constellation to the right upper corner. Gordon Syron took part in the East Coast Encounters project which involved a groups of artists re-imagining the arrival of the Europeans and first contact. Part of the reflection was upon Cook taking possession of New Holland's east coast despite his awareness that the country was inhabited.HistoryGordon Syron is a Biripi/Worimi artist born in New South Wales who was involved with the East Coast Encounter initiative. This project is a multi-arts initiative involving Australian Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal artists, writers and songwriters to re-imagine the encounter by Lt James Cook and his crew with Aboriginal people in 1770. Cook's voyage along the Australian east coast has become central to national historical narratives. The exhibition re-envisages this seminal journey by imaginatively exploring moments of contact between two world views during these encounters. It also brings these events into the present by incorporating artists' reflections on their relevance today, and their responses to visits to significant contact locations. Topics such as encounter, impact, differing perspectives, nature and culture and views of country are investigated. In this painting 'Botany Bay' Syron imagines the area just prior to the British arrival. The peaceful night and silent beauty are even more poignant as we the viewer are aware of what is about to happen with the arrival of Cook, the ENDEAVOUR and the events that will unfold. SignificanceThis work by Gordon Syron is significant in providing a contemporary Indigenous perspective of first contact and European occupation within Australia. It formed part of the East Coast Encounter exhibition as part of an ongoing attempt to provide an Indigenous perspective on Australia's history.