| Accession Number | ART90970 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Art |
| Measurement | Overall: 50.0 x 63.0 x 43.0 cm |
| Object type | Sculpture |
| Physical description | wood and plaster with brown and green patina, mounted on wood and perspex support |
| Maker |
Adams, Dennis |
| Place made | Australia: New South Wales, Australia: New South Wales, Sydney |
| Date made | 1968 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: © Australian War Memorial
This item is licensed under CC BY-NC
|
maquette for Survivors
Description
This is a maquette study for the large scale memorial to the Merchant Navy, 'Survivors', by Dennis Adams. It was created at a scale of approximately four and half to the envisaged final memorial.
Adams was an official war artist during the Second World War, commissioned to represent the activities of the Australian and US navies and the Merchant Marines in the South Pacific. He also worked in Britain, Rabaul and Japan. This piece was commissioned in 1968 and depicts a sea rescue. The Carley float has been canterleavered into a limestone wall, suspended in space to appear as though the event is happening in the ocean. Sailors are hauling in their fellow seamen, while waves crash over them. 'Survivors' indicates Adams interest in voluminous form, depicting dynamic movement and drawing the viewer into the emotional state of the rescue effort.