Man on Fire: Visions of Nebuchadnezzar @ Bundanon

Bringing together one of Arthur Boyd’s most celebrated bodies of work with a major new commission by acclaimed contemporary artist Shaun Gladwell, Man on Fire: Visions of Nebuchadnezzar is a powerful new exhibition at Bundanon that explores themes of pride, power, transformation and renewal.

At the heart of the exhibition is Boyd’s renowned Nebuchadnezzar series, created largely in the United Kingdom during the 1960s. Inspired by the biblical story of the Babylonian king who is cast into the wilderness and forced to live as an animal, Boyd’s works reflect his deeply held pacifist beliefs and the social upheaval of the Vietnam War era. The paintings offer a compelling meditation on human vulnerability, ego and the consequences of unchecked power.

Responding directly to Boyd’s work is a significant new commission by Shaun Gladwell, one of Australia’s leading contemporary artists. Created during a residency at Bundanon, Gladwell’s work draws on his longstanding connection to the Shoalhaven and interest in themes of masculinity, transformation and the role of art as a catalyst for personal and social change.

Spanning generations and artistic disciplines, Man on Fire: Visions of Nebuchadnezzar creates a fascinating dialogue between two influential Australian artists, inviting visitors to reflect on enduring questions of identity, exile, psychological reckoning and what it means to be human.