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Arthur Boyd - Ceramic Sculpture, 'Olympic Pylon'

Location

10 - 30 Olympic Boulevard,, MELBOURNE VIC 3000 - Property No B6595

File Number

B6595

Level

State

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B6595 Boyd Ceramic Sculpture
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B6595 Boyd Ceramic Sculpture
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B6595 Boyd Ceramic Sculpture

Statement of Significance

"Olympic Pylon" is significant at the State level as a unique work of a major artist in a period when there were few commissions for public art. This large ceramic sculpture was produced for the fore-court of the former Olympic Swimming Stadium in Swan Street Melbourne. This landmark building was specially designed and opened for the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, a significant date in Melbourne's history, and the work therefore has social significance for its recognition of this major event. In 1954 Arthur Boyd had had his first exhibition of ceramic sculpture, of which the National Gallery of Victoria purchased "Saul and David". These works were based on a new type of ceramic which combined translucent colour with the format and figurative content of oil paintings. Olympic Pylon was the largest and most exacting work that the artist had undertaken to that date.
Classified: 07/05/2001

Group