Interview by Liz Schaffer & Video by Marina Pliatsikas - full story in the Australia magazine
Sydney Harbour has always captivated Ken Done, the glittering, glorious icon painted onto countless canvases - alongside scenes from the Bungle Bungles, Kati Thanda (Lake Eyre), Broken Hill and considerably further afield. He creates these works in his studio overlooking Chinamans Beach, using plastic spades abandoned along the waterfront as his palettes. Never one to conform to artistic trends, Ken is drawn to words like ‘pretty’ and ‘beautiful’, and they define his vibrant, joyous style perfectly. He is kind, prolific and - by and large - remembers every painting he’s ever done.
A graduate of the National Art School, Ken spent years working in advertising, had his first exhibition at 40, has been awarded an Order of Australia, is a UNICEF Australia Goodwill Ambassador, opened his own gallery in the 1980s, created art for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and continues to work closely with his family. It’s this last feat that Ken sees as his greatest achievement.
For many Australians, Ken’s paintings and designs are immediately recognisable; not just because of what they depict, but because they’re part of our collective memory. As Amber Creswell Bell writes in her book, Ken Done: Art Design Life: ‘People talk about Ken Done products anecdotally, as having a place in their ownpersonal histories. In contrast to more disposable pieces, anything affiliated with Ken Done evokes an inherent nostalgia; it doesn’t get forgotten like other items.’ I remember, aged eight, wrapping myself in my mum’s Ken Done sarongs and thinking they were the most glamorous things imaginable. At 12, I treasured the sunshine-yellow suitcase he created for Sydney’s Opening Ceremony, aware that it was quite possibly part of history. And in 2020, I was sent Ken Done postcards in the depths of London’s first lockdown and basked in their colour and warmth - a little light from the country that raised me. To quote Amber once more: ‘Ken reminds us of what is good in the place we are fortunate enough to call home.’
Interviewing Ken for the Australia magazine was an absolute joy - a reminder that sometimes it is very, very good to meet your artistic heroes. I’m thrilled to be able to share the above video. Here’s the dreamy Sydney days, colour and finding your passion.
To add the Australia mag to your collection, which features our full interview with Ken (and much, much more), click here.
