Home at last
13 September – 8 March 2009 | Children’s Gallery
Introduction | Article | Selected works | Participate | Activities | Picture my world | Events
The exhibition Home at last provides a child’s eye–view of the Australian home across time, place and culture. It features a range of new and familiar media, techniques and objects by Australian artists in the national collection.
The National Gallery of Australia is encouraging young visitors, through the Picture my world project, to comment and respond to works of art in the national collection. Please join the discussion on the key works below by sending your comments or artistic responses to PictureMyWorld@nga.gov.au.
Holden with lipstick surfboards
It’s a car. It’s purple, black, and red and has skateboards on top. It’s going on a holiday.
Rachael, 5 years old
It looked very old. It looked like it was made out of papier mache.
Ella, 7 years old
It’s funny because the windows look all gooey. It looks like it has a surfboard on top. I like it.
Abby, 4 years old
Margaret Dodd Holden with lipstick surfboards 1977 glazed earthenware
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra © Margaret Dodd
Lost, Heathcliff
At first it is sad to think that the dog is lost but because he looks like a nice dog whoever found him would know that he was special to his family so they would probably go to a lot of trouble to find his owners. He is probably microchipped too.
Daniel, 9 years
I feel sad for this dog because it is dangerous out in the streets. The dog has two sad black eyes and is white with a thick red collar. It has large baggy ears and a small mouth and a black pointy nose and has short thick fur and looks as if it was really kind.
James, 8 years old
I can see a nose, ears, eyes, mouth, a body and a collar, on his head. He lost he wants to be lost because he is smiling. Our old dog ran away, and we looked for him and couldn’t find him, now we have a bigger dog.
Amelia, 4 years old
Noel McKenna Lost, Heathcliff 2001 watercolour
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra Gift of Peter Fay 2005 © Noel McKenna
Floral exterior
They have pictures in the colours.
Caitlin, 4 years old
My house just looks like white. It has red in between the cracks. The roof is a triangle. My home is good. I like it because we have a TV.
Charlie, 4 years old
It looks like a house. It’s got a purple roof, blue windows and an orange chimney. It’s got some pink and a mail box and it looks like bubble gum on the floor.
Laura, 5 years old
Howard Arkley Floral exterior 1996 synthetic polymer paint on canvas
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra © The Estate of Howard Arkley
Grandmother Lily McFarlane
There is a jar, an aboriginal drawing and a cup. I can also see fire.
Miles, 4 years old
On my birthday there are some presents, some people come over to my house. They play pass the parcel. They have some things to eat and drink. Mummy and Daddy get it all ready.
Jett, 4 years old
Well it is someone’s birthday time, there is a birthday cake. Her name is Rose, she is old and she knows them.
Isobel, 4 years old
Robert McFarlane Grandmother Lily McFarlane (née Gelsthorpe Brimage) at a dinner for her 77th birthday at our family home at Downing Street, Brighton, Adelaide 1964 gelatin silver photograph
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra