Cartoons for Joseph Selleny recalls the remarkable stay of the Austrian imperial frigate Novara that sailed to Sydney in late 1858.

The exhibition presents a set of large-scale charcoal drawings (produced as cartoons in the Renaissance style) alongside selected texts and letters, and an accompanying artist book.

Tom Nicholson has previously worked with archival material and in this work he uses a similar approach to engage with aspects of Australia’s early colonial history and the changing state of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal relations in this country.

*image (left)
Tom Nicholson
Cartoons for Joseph Selleny, 2012-14 (detail);
charcoal drawings, perforated; wall drawing with crushed charcoal;
artist’s book to take away; dimension variable.
Photograph: Christian Capurro.
Image courtesy the artist and Milani Gallery, Brisbane © the artist