Skip to main content
Skip to footer Skip to Acknowledgement of Country
National Gallery of Australia
What's On Art & Artists Visit
Login
  1. Home
  2. On Demand
  3. Audio
  4. Alan Oldfield Interview
Your browser does not support the audio element.
Download transcript
A drawing of two chairs.
Artist Interviews

Alan Oldfield Interview

James Gleeson Oral History Collection

Published 2015
67 minutes

James Gleeson interviews Alan Oldfield
1 August 1979

In the 1970s, leading surrealist painter Dr James Gleeson AO ventured into the studios of 98 Australian artists to discuss their works that had been acquired by the Gallery. As an artist, curator and writer, Gleeson brought a deeply thoughtful and personal perspective to these conversations.

The interviews, originally recorded on audio cassette tapes, now form the basis of a unique archive – the James Gleeson Oral History Collection – a vital historical and cultural resource for the study of contemporary Australian art. They provide first-hand insights into the genesis and creation of select works of art, mapping their enduring influence on Australian society more broadly.

Art & Artists


Referenced

Alan Oldfield

View of Bondi
1971

Alan Oldfield

Two chairs
1971

Alan Oldfield

Red table
1971

Alan Oldfield

Isola Bella
3 April 1975

Alan Oldfield

Bomarzo
9 June 1975

Alan Oldfield

Forza D'Agro
5 April 1975

Alan Oldfield

Ischia Ponte
9 September 1975

Alan Oldfield

The dance spreads Rumours about Sydney. (Two-sided posters for Rumours).
(1978-79)

Alan Oldfield

Portfolio: 40 costume and set designs, and an eight-leaf programme "Rumours", a ballet performed by the Dance Company of Sydney
1978-79

More from Artist Interviews


Artist Interviews /  Audio

John Armstrong interview
James Gleeson Oral History Collection

A sculpture of three shoe lasts with fur attached to the soles, fastened in a row alongside each other inside a timber rectangle frame

Published 2015

James Gleeson interviews John Armstrong, 6 Sept 1978

37 minutes
Talks & Lectures /  Video

The Moving Image with Hayley Millar Baker, Dylan River and Gutiŋarra Yunupiŋu

Screen shot of a film still showing a woman from behind, sitting on a bench and watching a large film projection

Published 05 April 2022

4th National Indigenous Art Triennial: Ceremony artists and curator Hetti Perkins come together for a panel discussion on contemporary film-making.

50 minutes
Artist Interviews /  Audio

Roger and Merle Kemp Interview
James Gleeson Oral History Collection

A black and white portrait image of a man facing straight ahead

Published 2015

James Gleeson interviews Roger and Merle Kemp, 1 October 1978.

77 minutes
Know My Name /  Video

Fiona Hall and Judy Watson in Conversation

A video still of a graphic that says Know My Name

Published 2020

Deborah Hart, Head Curator, Australia Art, leads a conversation with Australian artists Fiona Hall and Judy Watson (Waanyi people).

Audio Tour Closed Captions
44 minutes
Artist Interviews /  Audio

David Aspden Interview
James Gleeson Oral History Collection

A painting of red, yellow, orange, brown and beige irregular shapes on top of a dark brown canvas

Published 2015

James Gleeson interviews David Aspden, 28 May 1979.

28 minutes
Artist Interviews /  Audio

Vincas Jomantas Interview
James Gleeson Oral History Collection

Sculpture of abstract sitting body.

Published 2015

James Gleeson interviews Vincas Jomantas, 15 October 1979.

61 minutes
  • All videos
    in Artist Interviews
    All audio
    in Artist Interviews
  • More from Australian Art


    Artist Profile /  Video

    Jeffrey Smart Documentary
    Directed by Catherine Hunter

    An elderly man standing, leaning on an art canvas and holding up a painting in an artists studio

    Published 02 March 2022

    Open Captioning
    17 minutes
    Talks & Lectures /  Video

    Linda Burney on ‘Defying Empire’
    3rd National Indigenous Art Triennial

    Video still of artist speaking

    Published 2017

    Video

    Freddie Timms (Giji/Kija people) 'Blackfella whitefella' 1999

    Video still of painting.

    Published 2013

    Australian Art /  Video

    Patricia Piccinini's 'Subset-green landscape'

    Video still of artist speaking with their artwork in the background.

    Published 2014

    Australian Art /  Video

    Tom Roberts 'In a corner on the Macintyre'

    Published 16 December 2010

    Australian Art /  Video

    Tom Roberts 'By the beach'

    Video still of landscape painting

    Published 2016

  • All videos
    in Australian Art
    All audio
    in Australian Art
  • More from James Gleeson Oral Histories


    Artist Interviews /  Audio

    Desiderius Orban Interview
    James Gleeson Oral History Collection

    Drawing of abstract black shapes.

    Published 2015

    James Gleeson interviews Desiderius Orban, Circa September 1979.

    26 minutes
    Artist Interviews /  Audio

    Tony Coleing Interview
    James Gleeson Oral History Collection

    A print of a lady holding objects in a busy room.

    Published 2015

    James Gleeson interviews Tony Coleing, 1 January 1979.

    62 minutes
    Artist Interviews /  Audio

    Dorothy Thornhill Interview
    James Gleeson Oral History Collection

    A still life painting of five vegetables, four of which are on a plate to the left, and a Chinese dragon dog figure sitting to the right of the vegetables.

    Published 2015

    James Gleeson interviews Dorothy Thornhill, 10 August 1978

    32 minutes
    Artist Interviews /  Audio

    David Strachan Interview
    James Gleeson Oral History Collection

    A painting of the inside of a studio with wooden ceiling beams, wooden floors, and a vase of various flowers on the floor

    Published 2015

    James Gleeson interviews David Strachan, 11 February 1980.

    52 minutes
    Artist Interviews /  Audio

    John Firth-Smith Interview
    James Gleeson Oral History Collection

    A painting of an abstract water scene at a harbour with a small brown pipe blowing smoke on top of the water and a cream coloured triangle resembling a boat sail atop the water.

    Published 2015

    James Gleeson interviews John Firth-Smith, 29 August 1979.

    104 minutes
    Artist Interviews /  Audio

    Charles Blackman Interview
    James Gleeson Oral History Collection

    A painting of a rollercoaster at night

    Published 2015

    James Gleeson interviews Charles Blackman, 26 April 1979.

    93 minutes
  • All audio
    in James Gleeson Oral Histories
  • More from Talks & Lectures


    Talks & Lectures /  Video

    NAIDOC Week 2022 | Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori, Kaiadilt people

    Photograph of smiling man against a backdrop of an indigenous artwork

    Published 08 July 2022

    This NAIDOC Week, Bruce Johnson-McLean, Wierdi/Birri Gubba peoples, finds himself in Paris surrounded by the work of Sally Gabori

    Audio Tour Open Captioning
    4 minutes
    Artist Interviews /  Audio

    Rosemary Madigan Interview
    James Gleeson Oral History Collection

    Wooden sculpture.

    Published 2015

    James Gleeson interviews Rosemary Madigan, 1 January 1979.

    45 minutes
    Artist Interviews /  Audio

    David Aspden Interview
    James Gleeson Oral History Collection

    A painting of red, yellow, orange, brown and beige irregular shapes on top of a dark brown canvas

    Published 2015

    James Gleeson interviews David Aspden, 28 May 1979.

    28 minutes
    Talks & Lectures /  Video

    Politics of Performance with Joel Bray, S.J Norman & Darrell Sibosado

    screenshot of a video still showing a neon light artwork installed in a gallery space

    Published 05 April 2022

    Ceremony artists and curator Hetti Perkins come together for a panel discussion on First Nations perspectives on contemporary performance practices.

    59 minutes
    Talks & Lectures /  Video

    Artists in Conversation: Barbara Campbell, Narelle Jubelin and r e a

    A video still of a woman looking at an artwork

    Published 2020

    Video

    NVAEC 2016 - Keynote session 4 - Rika Burnham

    Video still of photo shown during presentation

    Published 28 July 2016

  • All videos
    in Talks & Lectures
    All audio
    in Talks & Lectures
  • Recently Added On Demand

    View all

    Video

    Artists Look at Art: Activating the Peter Townsend Collection of Chinese prints at the National Gallery of Australia

    Published 26 May 2023

    This two-day workshop about the Peter Townsend collection was attended by Australian artists, academics and curators at the Gallery.

    Artist Interviews /  Video

    Matthew Barney
    Introducing Redoubt and Basin Creek Burn

    Artist Matthew Barney sitting and introducing his film

    Published April 2023

    American contemporary artist Matthew Barney introduces us to his film 'Redoubt' and the sculptural work 'Bason Creek Burn'.

    Audio Tour Closed Captions
    5 mins
    Video

    Curator Jaklyn Babington on Yayoi Kusama
    #MuseumFromHome

    Published 12 April 2023

    Jaklyn Babington, Senior Curator of Contemporary Art, guides us through Yayoi Kusama's SPIRITS OF THE PUMPKINS DESCENDED INTO THE HEAVENS.

    Prints & Drawings /  Video

    Rauschenberg & Johns: Significant Others – Curatorial Introduction

    Published 16 March 2023

    Curator David Greenhalgh introduces the exhibition 'Rauschenberg & Johns: Significant Others'

    Open Captioning
    11 minutes
    Audio

    Judith Nangala Crispin
    Assembly (The Modelled Forms)

    Image of Judith Nangala Crispin reading from a sheet of paper in front of a projection still of Assembly

    Published 20 February 2023

    Audio Tour
    10 minutes
    Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art /  Video

    NAIDOC and the Art of Protest

    Portrait of a man standing in front of artworks in an Art Gallery

    Published 06 February 2023

    Bruce Johnson-McLean (Wierdi, Birri-Gubba peoples), Assistant Director, Indigenous Engagement, discusses the art of protest in the collection.

    Audio Tour Closed Captions
    35 minutes
  • On Demand Video

    Didn't find what you were looking for?

    Search On Demand
    deep coloured building by night
    Go back to start of main content
    Go to top of page

    Yuuma, Gurruburri

    The National Gallery acknowledges the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples, the Traditional Custodians of the Kamberri/Canberra region, and recognises their continuous connection to culture, community and Country.

    • National Gallery On Demand
    • Art & Artists
    • What's On
    • Visit
    • Membership
    • Donate
    • Jobs
    • About Us
    Connect

    +61 2 6240 6411
    information@nga.gov.au
    Get art in your inbox

    Open every day

    (except Christmas day)
    10am – 5pm

    Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country
    Parkes Place East, Parkes ACT 2600

    View Street Map
    View Gallery Map


    Contact us

    National Gallery of Australia

    Follow the National gallery of Australia on:

    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Website Privacy Website Disclaimer Website Copyright
    Opening Acknowledgment of Country

    The National Gallery acknowledges the First Peoples of this land and recognises their continuous connection to culture, community and Country

    Learn More
      • View All
      • Today
      • Exhibitions
      • On tour
      • Access Programs
      • All Programs
      • On Demand
      • About the Collection
      • Sculpture Garden
      • Kenneth E. Tyler Collection
      • Provenance
      • Conservation
      • Copyright
      • Search the Collection
      • Plan Your Visit
      • Getting Here
      • Parking & Transport
      • Art Store
      • Dining
      • Visiting with Kids
      • Research Library & Archives
      • Admission tickets
      • Browse Stories
      • Browse Videos
      • Podcasts
      • Audio Tours
      • Virtual Tours
      • The Annual
      • Publications
      • Learning Programs
      • For people with access needs
      • For Teachers & Students
      • For Young People
      • For Kids & Families
      • For Adults
      • For Your Community
      • Art Cases
      • Educator Programs
      • Get Involved
      • Membership
      • Voluntary Guides
      • Partnerships
      • Support
      • Donate
    • First Nations
    • Access
    • Art Store
    • Media
    • Venue Hire
    • About Us
    • Contacts