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ISSN 1039-3498 | no. 48| December 2000


An Inventive Magic: Donald Friend and his Diaries

Friday and Saturday, 23–24 February 2001
Venue: National Library Theatre, Canberra

Donald Friend

Donald Friend (1915–1989). Donald Selbsbildnis, 28 May 1943

Painter, draughtsman, printmaker, sculptor, illustrator, genius, rascal—Donald Friend’s life attracted as much comment as his work. Born in 1915, he was one of Australia’s leading modern artists, mentioned in the same breath as Russell Drysdale and William Dobell. Yet he became as famous for the luxurious life he led in Bali, where he lived and worked from 1966 to 1980, as for his work as a visual artist. Until his death in 1989, Friend recorded his life and the lives of the people around him in over 40 diaries. From the age of 14, when he began his first diary, he also demonstrated talent as a writer. In his spontaneous, witty, and often self-mocking diaries, Friend provides a revealing account of more than four decades of Australian life and culture.

This fascinating conference will explore Donald Friend’s artistic and personal life. It will examine his life in Bali and his interest in Balinese art. The conference will also look at Donald Friend’s writings, particularly those in his substantial diaries, which are held by the National Library of Australia. The conference is aimed at the general public and interested scholars.

Eminent participants include Anna Gray (editor of the Library’s Donald Friend Diaries publishing project), Sasha Grishin, Lou Klepac, Barry Pearce, John Thompson, Gavin Wilson, Ian Stocks, Christine France, John Moyle, John McDonald and Michael Heyward.

For further information, please contact
Louise O’Brien, Events Coordinator
Public Programs, National Library of Australia
Telephone: (02) 6262 1289
Email: lobrien@nla.gov.au

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Please address any comments and enquiries to The Editor, Gateways: dthomas@nla.gov.au

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