The 100-year anniversary of D.H. Lawrence's celebrated novel Kangaroo, written in Thirroul, is bringing together poet Dr Luke Johnson and artist Garry Shead in a new exhibition.

Garry Shead and Dr Luke Johnson (Image: Aaron Burton)

Tell us about the upcoming exhibition, Kangaroo Unbound

Kangaroo Unbound exhibition is made up of paintings, etchings and collographs from Garry Shead’s iconic DH Lawrence series, coupled with poetry written by me in response to those works. The poetry project has been in train for several years now, but the idea of working on this exhibition together came about largely through Garry’s generous donation to UOW’s Art Collection on this the 100-year anniversary of the publication of Lawrence’s novel, Kangaroo, along with the support of Wollongong Art Gallery.

What is the significance of DH Lawrence's novel Kangaroo and what can you tell us about his time spent in the Illawarra?

It’s something of a historical quirk that in the year 1922 the great modernist writer DH Lawrence should have cast himself into voluntary exile from England and arrived on the shores of Australia. Even more incredible is that he should have sojourned south of Sydney to what was then the tiny seaside village Thirroul, where he wrote his eighth novel, Kangaroo.

Locals will detect an uncanniness in Lawrence’s fictionalised version of Thirroul – both intensely familiar and intensely alien at the same time. A modern masterpiece conceived, written and based right here in our backyard!

You are showcasing your different creative mediums; how do you think they will complement each other in the exhibition?

Garry has routinely taken his inspiration from literature, with paintings based on the poetry of ‘Ern Malley’ and Dante’s Divine Comedy as well as Lawrence. In this regard, there’s a lovely circularity with the Kangaroo Unbound project, which moves from literature to art and back to literature. Exhibition curator Teo Treloar will be drawing out these parallels with a real focus on presenting the two mediums on equal footing.

What other events are happening to coincide with the 100-year anniversary?

The exhibition is taking place during our faculty research week, so there will be lots of creative research, including writing, music, art and performance, happening around campus. Local historian and DH Lawrence scholar Dr Joseph Davis will also give a public lecture in the gallery on Tuesday 12 September at 1.30pm.

Kangaroo Unbound will be on display at the TAEM Gallery (located in building 25) until Friday 29 September.

Special opening event - Tuesday 19 September at 4pm. Visitors are welcome to attend.

For further details check out uow.edu.au/events