Ante Dabro
Ante Dabro (born 13 January 1938, Čavoglave, Croatia) is a Croatian-born Australian artist/sculptor and art teacher who has lived and worked in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory since the late 1960s.
Dabro's sculptures are typified by angular form; many are nudes and bronzes. His work is said to embody universal themes, "suffering, hope, sexuality, heroism, spirituality" but also silently acknowledge the 'outsider'.[1]
Principal works
A selection of Dabro's works are listed:
- Royal Australian Navy Memorial, Canberra - Sailors and Ships - Interaction and Interdependence (1986), unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II on 1986-03-03, the 75th anniversary of the Navy.
- Australian National University:[2]
- Contemplation (2002) - a response to the poetry of Judith Wright
- Sir Winston Churchill (2001) - Winston Churchill Trust
- Brindabella Business Park, Canberra Airport; these are in the collection of the airport's owner, Terry Snow, and are on loan to BBP:
- four bronzes at water features, Susanne, Dancer, and The Bathers,[3] all dated 2005[4]
- a bronze figure Genesis (2009), unveiled 2009-06-02 by the Governor General of Australia, Quentin Bryce.[5]
- Canberra City
- "Resilience" (2009)
- Saint Matthew, (1984), St Matthew's Roman Catholic Church, Page, ACT
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Susanne (2005), life-sized bronze nude, sits on a wall beside a reflecting pond, BBP.
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Dancer (2005), 1.5 life-sized bronze nude, in a reflecting pool, BBP.
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The Bathers (2005), two 1.5 life-sized bronze nudes, in a reflecting pool, BBP.
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Genesis (2008/9); 1.5 life-sized bronze nude, eastern end of BBP.
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Genesis signature incorporating the face of Chiko (Australian Silky Terrier)
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St Matthew, (1984); life-size bronze.
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Standing figure, (1981–82); 3/4-to-full life size bronze.
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Sisters , (1985), two life-sized bronze nudes, Queensland Art Gallery
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Bronze statues by Ante Dabro, Qantas gates, Canberra Airport
Career
- 1964 - graduate, Academy of Fine Arts, Zagreb
- 1966 - Master of Arts, Academy of Fine Arts, Zagreb
- 1967 - emigrated to Australia, settled in Canberra
- 1971-2004 - teacher, School of Art, Australian National University
- 1984-6 - commission, Royal Australian Navy Memorial, ANZAC Parade, Canberra
- 1989
- commission, Liberal Party of Australia, miniature bust of Sir Robert Menzies
- commission, Government of Australia, for French Bicentenary, sculpture of naval explorer Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse (now in Paris)
- 1999 - Retrospective solo exhibition, 1969–99, Drill Hall Gallery, Canberra
- 2005 - commissions, for Terry Snow and Canberra Airport
Staircase thefts
On the Staircase is a group of four stylised male figures, progressively smaller as they are further up a staircase of diminishing size, all in bronze. The figures are each reading a book. It cost $80,000. After it was again vandalised,[6] in the local media it was attributed to Ante Dabro.[7] Yet, it had been attributed correctly weeks earlier by the another outlet to Danish artist, Keld Moseholm[8] Dabro was quoted in local media, as being upset to the vandalism of art, perhaps adding to the confusion among the media. The smallest figure was removed on 8 December 2013, with the act visible on footage from a CCTV camera, with two women shown shortly before the theft. After the publicity, on the following day the figure was turned in to a local ACT Police station.
References
- ↑ Ante Dabro: Croatian born-Australian Sculptor, Dr Peter Read, Australian National University, accessed 29 January 2008
- ↑ Sculpture on Acton Campus (brochure), Australian National University, accessed 29 January 2008
- ↑ The Bathers unveiled, The Hub magazine, Canberra Airport, February 2006, accessed 29 January 2008
- ↑ Artist in residence, Brindabella Business Park website, accessed 2009-08-23
- ↑ Governor General of Australia to open sculpture by world-renowned Artist Ante Dabro, media release, 2009-06-02, accessed 2009-08-23
- ↑ Petrie Plaza sculpture vandalised again, figure stolen, Stephanie Anderson and Ben Westcott, Canberra Times, 9 December 2013
- ↑ Stairway sculpture hit again by thieves in Civic, ABC News Online, 9 December 2013
- ↑ Little guys are back with some big-time protection, Helena Virgo, Canberra Times, 30 October 2013, accessed 9 December 2013
External links
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