The Elaine and Jim Wolfensohn gift
Travelling exhibitions | Introduction | Blue case | Red case | Yellow case | Melbourne cup
Yellow Case: Form, space, design
Digestion haiku
'As its name suggests, this piece is a small poem to the chemical act of digestion, making stylised references to teeth, orifices, the digestive tract and eating implements. It incorporates a brass tap and plumbing corners, again to make reference to our own internal plumbing. The totemic forms are balanced to suggest vulnerability and the piece as a whole was made within the vague recollection of laboratory equipment'
Richard Byrnes Digestion haiku 1993, bronze, National Gallery of Australia
Light stone
John Edgar was born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1950. His interest in carving started as a child when he found an old sheath knife and began carving small objects out of wood, bone and pumice. Edgar still uses this sheath knife in his work.
John Edgar Light stone 1993, greywacke stone, glass National Gallery of Australia
Red eye
'I strive to be self-sufficient in my craft; to be able to effect with my hands and my tools anything that my heart and mind can conjure. To leave behind small tokens of my love for this land of stone in the hope that each object might evoke the questions who made this and why, when, how, and where?'
John Edgar Light stone 1993, greywacke stone, glass National Gallery of Australia
The arms of the people
Howard has used war and the military as a subject for his art since 1970. He has travelled to military establishments all over the world studying weapons and associated technology. The artist has a fascination with war and through his art he expresses his concern about the menace of war
Ian Howard The arms of the people 1990, bronze, unique cast, National Gallery of Australia
Music sticks
In Aboriginal culture, music sticks have long been used to accompany songs and dances during ceremonies. Today music sticks are among the cultural items produced by communities for sale to the growing tourism trade and art market.
Mary Oliver Music sticks 1997, wood and acrylic paint, National Gallery of Australia
The space inside my fist
Neil Roberts' bronze sculpture explores the space inside a tightly clenched fist and what remains when the fist is uncurled — is it simply air or a memory of the gesture?
Neil Roberts The space inside my fist 1995, bronze, National Gallery of Australia
Stockman and horse
David Wallace has been making bush toys for the children of his community since he was a teenager. Like many bush toys, Wallace's items are made from salvaged materials and, generally, whatever is available at the time. The stockmen on horseback are made from recycled copper wires wound tightly together, and the figures have been dressed using a range of found and salvaged items.
David Wallace Stockman and horse 1997, recycled materials including wire, fabric, plastic, buttons, National Gallery of Australia
Stockman and horse
David Wallace has been making bush toys for the children of his community since his teenage years. Like many bush toys, Wallace's items are made from salvaged materials and, generally, whatever is available at the time. The stockmen on horseback are made from recycled copper wires wound tightly together, and the figures have been dressed using a range of found and salvaged items.
David Wallace Stockman and horse 1997, recycled materials including wire, fabric, plastic, buttons, National Gallery of Australia