Gerard Havekes interviewed by Alex and Annette Hood in the Alex Hood folklore collection [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 3624447
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Havekes, Gerard, 1925-2011, interviewee
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 2005 Dec. 6
- 1 digital audio tape (ca. 62 min.)
- Series:
- Alex Hood folklore collection.
- Summary:
-
Folkloric recording. Gerard Havekes, born 1925, in Holland, talks about his family background; World War II experiences; serving in Indonesia for 4 years; his decision to come to Australia; the 1950's in Australia; impressions of Sydney and Melbourne; Captain Peter Jensen; Albert Hitter; the Eltham, Vic., Monsalvat settlement; Matcham Skipper; constantly drawing and painting as a child; story of mother's visit to Australia; his High School days, art classes, clay modelling; the use of the 'kanga' on stone sculptures; the commission of '3 Standing Figures' in Hyde Park, Sydney (1955); an exhibition of paintings in Farmers and Macquarie Galleries, new style for Sydney; how he sculpted the big figures; his work at the Darwin Casino and some problems encountered there and over his sculptures in Broken Hill; confusion over 'ceramics'; other big works in Melbourne and Brisbane.
Havekes discusses moving to Kenthurst, taking over an old Dutch club with outbuildings; his wife Louise and her brother Nick; rebuilding the club, becoming a popular place with artistic community; building 9 kilns, fixing the cottages; being innovative with products; innovations with glazes; other potters and artists; ceramic walls were an innovation, not seen before in Australia; developing architectural ceramics; his move into tapestries, designed by him and made in Hong Kong; past workers in this field; works for private gardens, sculptures etc.; his murals; benefactors, the Bond sisters; parties at Kenthurst; how his three daughters danced with Margaret Barr; exhibitions in Holland; studio in Jakarta; life in Indonesia, Sydney, Melbourne; the destruction of many old buildings in Sydney; the 'Queen Victoria Building'; 'Saving of the 'Rocks'; Jack Mundey; still painting and his large studio in Leichhardt; his health concerns.
- Biography/History:
-
Gerard Havekes arrived in Australia in 1950 from Holland and Indonesia, where he served in the Dutch Army for 4 years. His father was an architect in Holland and an etcher of note. Havekes was influenced by his father's associates and began drawing and painting at an early age, then moved into work with clay and ceramics. He was instrumental in establishing a new style in art, sculpture and architectural exteriors in Australia. His early exhibitions of impressionist works caused a sensation in the art world, to be followed by his large sculptures, notably the three standing stone figures in Hyde Park, Sydney. Havekes had major breakthroughs with exterior architectural ceramics on many buildings in Melbourne and Sydney, and really brought ceramics to a new level in Australia. Other major works can be seen at Broken Hill and the Darwin Casino. More recently he created large tapestries to be hung in buildings as part of architectural designs. He has been a major influence on the emergence of modern Australian Art and Architecture.
- Notes:
-
- Recorded on December 6, 2005 at Leichardt, N.S.W.
- Digital master available National Library of Australia;
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary (5 p.)
- Subject:
- Occupation:
- Sculptors
- Other authors/contributors:
- Related Records:
-
This belongs to the Alex Hood folklore collection.
This collection contains 186 records. - Copyright:
-
In Copyright
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- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2075 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2005
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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