Poles Apart
- Judy Rymer
- Sep 18
- 1 min read
This film is about American painter Jackson Pollock and the Australian Government. It is the story of the Blue Poles controversy. It is also about politics, money and cultural leaps of faith.
Feature documentary 56 mins
SYNOPSIS
POLES APART places the acquisition by the Whitlam government of Jackson Pollock's 'Blue Poles' in all the turbulence of its social and political context.
The year was 1973. A reforming Labor government swept into power determined to change the direction of the country. In an act of unprecedented daring the Whitlam government paid the highest price ever for an American painting for its planned National Gallery. The painting was Jackson Pollock's "Blue Poles".
'Drunks did it' screamed the tabloid press. Journalists, politicians and cartoonists had a field day, while everybody, but everybody, across the nation had an opinion.
Today painter Jackson Pollock's masterpiece is unquestionably one of the most famous painting in Australia. It has become a symbol of our independence, signalling the departure from our British roots and entry into a brave new world.
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