Silently Stirring

21 March – 8 June 2009  | Children’s Gallery

Jumping, leaping, flying, swimming …

Most of the time, art doesn’t move … or does it? Observing the movement of an animal is easy, but how does an artist capture the motion of an animal?

Find Apu kaz, the baby dugong, as it floats and swims, and Ottomar Anschütz’s monkeys as they balance and climb along branches. Famous photographer, Harold Edgerton has beautifully captured owls flying and a dog leaping. Prints by David Rose allow us to hear the buzz of dragonflies and feel the heat of the Australian bush.

Think about how you might draw your pet walking, a fly flying, a dog barking or a horse drinking. How would you do it?

Choose an artwork from below and click through to find a fun activity.

David Rose  Floating Frog 1979
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Gift of the artist 1992
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David Rose Dragonflies over dam 1979
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Gift of the artist 1992
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Harold Edgerton Owl 1961
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Gift of the Harold and Esther Edgerton Family Foundation 1997
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Harold Edgerton Jackie jumps the bench 1938
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Gift of the Harold and Esther Edgerton Family Foundation 1997
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Harold Edgerton Owl multiflash (Spooky) 1965
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Gift of the Harold and Esther Edgerton Family Foundation 1997
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Harold Edgerton Hummingbird 1947
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Gift of the Harold and Esther Edgerton Family Foundation 1997
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Ottomar Anschütz Monkey [Affe] no 16 [monkey at end of diagonal branch facing left] 1886
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Gift of Dr Dirk Spennemann 2004
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Ottomar Anschütz Monkey [Affe] no 24 [monkey on all fours, on horizontal branch, moving to the left] 1886
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Gift of Dr Dirk Spennemann 2004
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Ottomar Anschütz Monkey [Affe] no 28 [monkey on inclined branch, facing left, looking back over left shoulder] 1886
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Gift of Dr Dirk Spennemann 2004
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