By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
THE BOLD palette of leading local artist John Druce has gone on show with about 60 recent works.
Nominally retired, the 76 year-old Bellarine Peninsula artist has travelled widely for the last 10 years exploring places and characters.
Druce said his major themes still revolved around the exploitation and degradation of Australia’s indigenous population and the characters of out-of-the-way Australia.
“Within our vast island canvas lays a myriad of lives and landscapes. We have a 60,000 year-old indigenous population and settlements born of convict labour and stealth,” Druce explained.
“It is the layers of history, deception and drama that were not taught to my generation.”
Druce believed that Australians had been “indoctrinated with an imperial view that has plagued us with a 200-year Aussie amnesia”.
“I have endeavoured to uncover these misguided teachings though my paintings.
“It astounds me how our white authors masked the truth of this nation’s history. I feel I have only scratched the surface to unfold the greater truths and the reason for their conscious concealment.
“This is not meant to be the full story of its unearthing, just my beginning of an unravelling story.”
Druce said the chance to travel the land and experience its impact on people who grew up and worked in the out-back and distant coastal areas was a “rare treat indeed”.
“People have always interested me. The character in their faces has always held my attention.
“Faces of the outback people are so full of character, hence my need to photograph, draw and paint them continually.”
Gordon Gallery is hosting The John Druce Exhibition from 10am to 4pm weekdays until Thursday.
