Nolan’s work looks very childlike, depictions of the Australian outback from where he is from. His most famous series is that of Ned Kelly, the notorious criminal of the outback who wore armour to protect himself from the police, depicted in Nolan’s work as the black figure with the square helmet with just eyes popping through.
Nolan was brought up in a heavily conservative area, going through depression. He found work at a tram company but still had to supplement it with illegal bookmaking.
His art career was inspired by the fact that he wanted to break free from his very conservative and strict upbringing. He wanted to express himself.
During this period Nolan became influenced by Arthur Rimbaud whose poetry was also a large influence on the surrealist movement. His work was illogical, dreamlike and used a lot of symbolism. Rejecting naturalism and realism he believed that the purpose of art was not to represent reality but to access greater truths by the ‘systematic derangement of the senses.’ The ideas that are explored in Rimbaud’s poetry proved to be some of Nolan’s greatest influences.
Beth Radic Art 