December 2, 2016

Art in Australia comes to life in digital form

UOW Library digitises collection in joint project with UNSW Library and National Library of Australia. 

A joint project between the University of Wollongong Library, the University of New South Wales Library and the National Library of Australia (NLA) has resulted in a free, online version of a prominent early Australian Art publication.

Produced between the two world wars, 1916 to 1942, Art in Australia is a major resource for Australian art history, promoting modern ideas at a time when electricity and automobiles were just being introduced to Australian households.

“[Publisher, patron and artist], Sydney Ure Smith modelled this journal on high quality European art publications such as The Studio, and sought to nurture a national tradition in Australian art and design,” UOW Creative Arts Professor Ian McLean said.

The digitisation of the magazine took place over a period of three months, with special care taken to ensure the end result adhered to the NLA’s rigorous specifications and resulted in quality images and easily readable text. It is the first time the entire publication has been made freely available online in high-resolution.

UOW Library Director Margie Jantti said the publication offers a unique, historical aspect to Australian art and artists and the development of prominent art collections in Australia.

“One of the really special things about this publication was the value placed in female artists, and the recognition of Indigenous art beyond the anthropological value,” she said.

“UOW Library has kept an incomplete set of Art in Australia within its rare books collection for a number of years. This small but beautiful set was very rarely accessed because its delicate condition requires it to be kept safely from the open shelves.

“It’s very exciting that we are now able to share this resource with the wider community both locally and globally.”

UNSW Library held an almost complete collection of Art in Australia and were able to contribute 47 issues, including a special architecture issue from 1919.

Martin Borchert, University Librarian at UNSW Australia said he is pleased the libraries have been able to collaborate to give this historic and beautiful Australian art publication “a second life” via a digitisation program, and by making it available on open access.

"The freely and openly available online format allows everyone – researchers, students and the community - to enjoy and benefit from accessing this title," he said.

Art in Australia will be permanently available online on the NLA Trove website from today (Friday 2 November). 

A Note from UOW Library Director Margie Jantti:

Art in Australia appeals to followers of early 20th century art and the wonderful aesthetics of these early years. It contained articles by or about significant Australian artists – both Norman Lindsey and Margaret Preston contributed articles as well as featured in issues – and often displayed their works as exquisite high quality plates. The advertisements in Art in Australia were almost artworks themselves, reflecting the superior quality of the publication and perhaps also the lifestyles of its readers.