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Croatian Australian sculptor
Ante Dabro at work in his studio at
Canberra Airport , 2011. Behind (L-R) are the full sized models for "Genesis", "Resilience", the unassembled pieces of "Mother and Child", and his
Australian Silky Terrier , Chico.
Royal Australian Navy Memorial ,
Anzac Parade, Canberra
Ante Dabro (born 13 January 1938,
Čavoglave ,
Croatia ) is a Croatian-born
Australian
artist /
sculptor and art
teacher who has lived and worked in
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory since the late 1960s.
Dabro's sculptures are typified by angular form; many are
nudes and
bronzes . His work is said to embody universal themes, "suffering, hope, sexuality, heroism, spirituality" but also silently acknowledge the 'outsider'.
[1]
Principal works
A selection of Dabro's works are listed:
Royal Australian Navy Memorial, Canberra - Sailors and Ships - Interaction and Interdependence (1986), unveiled by Queen
Elizabeth II on 1986-03-03, the 75th anniversary of the
Navy .
Australian National University :
[2]
Brindabella Business Park ,
Canberra Airport ; these are in the collection of the airport's owner,
Terry Snow , and are on loan to BBP:
Canberra City
Saint Matthew , (1984), St Matthew's
Roman Catholic Church ,
Page, ACT
Susanne (2005), life-sized bronze nude, sits on a wall beside a reflecting pond, BBP.
Dancer (2005), 1.5 life-sized bronze nude, in a reflecting pool, BBP.
The Bathers (2005), two 1.5 life-sized bronze nudes, in a reflecting pool, BBP.
Genesis (2008/9); 1.5 life-sized bronze nude, eastern end of BBP.
Genesis signature incorporating the face of Chiko (
Australian Silky Terrier )
St Matthew , (1984); life-size bronze.
Standing figure , (1981–82); 3/4-to-full life size bronze.
Sisters , (1985), two life-sized bronze nudes,
Queensland Art Gallery
Bronze statues by Ante Dabro,
Qantas gates,
Canberra Airport
Career
1964 - graduate, Academy of Fine Arts,
Zagreb
1966 -
Master of Arts, Academy of Fine Arts, Zagreb
1967 - emigrated to Australia, settled in Canberra
1971-2004 - teacher, School of Art, Australian National University
1984-6 - commission,
Royal Australian Navy Memorial, Anzac Parade, Canberra
1989
1999 - Retrospective solo exhibition, 1969–99,
Drill Hall Gallery, Canberra
2005 - commissions, for Terry Snow and Canberra Airport
Staircase thefts
On the Staircase is a group of four stylised male figures, progressively smaller as they are further up a staircase of diminishing size, all in bronze. The figures are each reading a book. It cost $80,000. After it was again vandalised,
[7] in the local media it was attributed to Ante Dabro.
[8] Yet, it had been attributed correctly weeks earlier by another outlet to Danish artist,
Keld Moseholm
[9] Dabro was quoted in local media, as being upset to the vandalism of art, perhaps adding to the confusion among the media. The smallest figure was removed on 8 December 2013, with the act visible on footage from a
CCTV camera, with two women shown shortly before the theft. After the publicity, on the following day the figure was handed into a local
ACT Police station.
References
^
Ante Dabro: Croatian born-Australian Sculptor
Archived 19 August 2006 at the
Wayback Machine , Dr Peter Read,
Australian National University , accessed 29 January 2008
^
Sculpture on Acton Campus (brochure),
Australian National University , accessed 29 January 2008
^
The Bathers unveiled
Archived 29 August 2007 at the
Wayback Machine , The Hub magazine, Canberra Airport, February 2006, accessed 29 January 2008
^
Artist in residence
Archived 13 September 2009 at the
Wayback Machine ,
Brindabella Business Park website, accessed 2009-08-23
^
Governor General of Australia to open sculpture by world-renowned Artist Ante Dabro
Archived 13 September 2009 at the
Wayback Machine , media release, 2009-06-02, accessed 2009-08-23
^
details of the bust of Jean-François de Galaup , Art@Site, accessed 2024-02-07
^
Petrie Plaza sculpture vandalised again, figure stolen ,
Stephanie Anderson and Ben Westcott,
The Canberra Times , 9 December 2013
^
Stairway sculpture hit again by thieves in Civic ,
ABC News Online , 9 December 2013
^
Little guys are back with some big-time protection , Helena Virgo,
The Canberra Times , 30 October 2013, accessed 9 December 2013
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to
Ante Dabro .