Michael Shannon
My Mabel waits for me
With its strong black outlines and rigid shapes filled with
vibrant colour, this work was a controversial choice as the winner
of the Crouch Prize in 1953. Shannon, who had abandoned the idea of
becoming an architect in favour of art when he attended Saturday
art classes, pursued his studies at the National Gallery of
Victoria School and the George Bell School and later, in London and
Paris.
Although well known for his cityscapes that often reflect a
birdseye or roof top view, here Shannon has portrayed a single
dwelling and empty vehicle outside of which a woman and young child
wait. The painting caused a storm of derision from the general
public who decried it for the perceived meanness of the subject
matter, and for its lack of realism. Even the selecting
judge, Gordon Thomson, then Deputy Director of the National Gallery
of Victoria, recognised that it was likely to raise much
controversy. Thomson thought that the title had embarassing
connotations, but he concluded in his selection commentary that the
work deserved the prize on account of its 'strong approach to
nature… full of life and color', and its unmistakeably Australian
subject matter.