The Spirit of the Young Quaker

Artist Peter Hudson

Date2012

Object number00054550

NameDrawing

MediumMixed media on paper

DimensionsDisplay dimensions: 485 × 485 × 30 mm

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionA drawing by Peter Hudson titled 'The Spirit of the Young Quaker'. The framed work depicts a dark fish with white speckles swimming in the water, with its shadow reflected under it. This work was inspired by the botanical paintings and drawings made during cook’s voyage by artist Sydney Parkinson. It is also a contemporary look at the two world views, of what always was Aboriginal culture, intertwined with European contactHistoryThis work by Peter Hudson was produced for East Coast Encounter, a multi-arts initiative involving Australian Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, writers and songwriters to re-imagine the encounter by Lieutenant James Cook and his crew with Indigenous people in 1770. Peter Hudson was the initiator of the East Coast Encounter concept and was a passionate advocate for the project. Cook's voyage along the Australian east coast has become central to national historical narratives. The East Coast Encounter project asked artists to re-envisage this seminal journey by imaginatively exploring moments of contact between two world views during these encounters. It also brought 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. This particular work was inspired by the beautiful botanical paintings and drawings made during cook’s voyage by artist Sydney Parkinson. He died of dysentery at the age of 26, on the voyage home from Batavia and his body was buried at sea. "I often think of his short, but important life. Did his spirit travel home to his family in England or did it remain in the ocean? I wonder what he thought and what he dreamed. Being a Quaker, he probably had a disciplined work ethic which would have helped him get his job done. From his tiny cabin/studio on the Endeavour Parkinson produced almost 1000 paintings and drawings." - Peter Hudson [www.eastcoastencounter.com.au] SignificanceThis painting by Peter Hudson is significant in providing an alternate view of first contact and European occupation of Australia.