Leunig Animated and On Location

Venue:
Museum of Sydney

Dates:
On Location - to 31 March 2002
Leunig - to 19 May 2002

An animated view

From his days as a political cartoonist, Michael Leunig has been something of an Australian icon.

It wasn't because he was the
quintessential Aussie (quite the opposite in fact), but his quirky, gentle yet pointed panels tapped into something deep in our psyche. Perhaps it's the notion of a "fair go", or maybe the idea that the world looks better when you view it through a slightly warped lens; but it was something that resonated with Australians.

In Leunig Animated, we're allowed a fascinating peek into the world and the mind of the man. The exhibition incorporates clay models, photographic stills, and full-scale "sets" from some of his animated works. But the highlight is a video presentation about Leunig and his animation. It not only delves into the process by which many of his famous moments came about, but also provides insight into how Leunig's mind works. It also contains several of the terrific animated pieces Leunig has created over the years, including How Democracy Really Works, Nude Beach and Simpleton. Their wonderful simplicity, endearing characters and offbeat sense of humour make them perennial favourites.

The exhibition also highlights the painstaking craftsmanship involved in the "claymation" process, from creating the characters, casting the figures, manipulating them and devising the backgrounds. Several of Leunig's storyboards and notebooks are included to illustrate just how intricate the procedure can be.

For Leunig fans, or anyone interested in the art of animation, Leunig Animated is a must. >>>

Down the hall at MOS, a related but rather different exhibition can be found. On Location, charts Sydney's role as a setting and a studio for film production over the years.

For locals and film buffs alike, the exhibition provides a wonderful opportunity to explore how the city looks through a camera lens. From films like They're a Weird Mob, though Caddie and Emerald City to recent fare like Two Hands and Looking for Ailbrandi, the different moods and textures of the urban landscape are captured.

While many of the films used Sydney as a setting in itself, it's interesting to see how some filmmakers have used it as a generic urban space. The Matrix team used an old industrial building to create the otherworldly feel of that film (and looking forward to more of the same in Matrix II later this year); while in Risk, the city is viewed from some very different angles.

The memorabilia from various productions is on display, and they're nicely complemented by clips from the films concerned shown on a large screen at the end of the exhibition hall.

Both Leunig Animated and On Location are part of the new breed of exhibitions integrating static and dynamic displays with interactivity to provide a more rewarding experience for the audience. Each is a fine presentation in its own right; but if you have the opportunity to see them both (and you will till March 20), it's well worth the effort.

David Edwards

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