The 1930s in Australia was a tumultuous time — it was a decade that saw the highs of engineering marvels like the Sydney Harbour Bridge completed, but also the lows of The Great Depression, an impending Second World War and a highly conservative society. However, out of these ups and downs came one of the most important eras in Australian art history, and this period is explored in a new immersive exhibition at the NGV's Ian Potter Centre.
Through more than 200 works across photography, painting, printmaking, fashion, architecture and more, Brave New World: Australia 1930s considers how artists responded to the social and political concerns of the time, features Australia's pioneering female artists, who carved out a way forward in the modern art movement, and showcases those who focused hopefully on our emerging cities in their vibrancy, colour and culture.
Image: Eugene Hyland.