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Nothing

 

TitleNothing's as precious as a hole in the ground

CreatoreX d. MEDICI
Birth Date: 1959

Date Created 2001

Collection Area Paintings

Medium mangrove bark pigment, watercolour on vellum

SubjectPeter GARRETT

InformationMembers of the future Midnight Oil began playing together in Sydney in 1972. After performing as Farm for some time, in 1976 they found a new lead singer, Peter Garrett, changed their name to Midnight Oil and began to carve their live career along the northern beaches. From the start, the Oils' songs aggressively addressed social concerns such as the environment, uranium mining and Aboriginal rights. In 1987, having toured some of the remotest parts of the outback with the Warumpi Band, they released their eighth album, Diesel and Dust, which sold more than two million copies world-wide. It included the huge hit 'Beds are Burning', performed provocatively at the close of the 2000 Olympics. Martin Rotsey, Rob Hirst, Peter Garrett, Jim Moginie and Bones Hillman effectively disbanded in December 2002, when Garrett became President of the Australian Conservation Foundation. The Labor member for Kingsford Smith since 2004, following the Federal election of November 2007 Garrett became Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts. In March 2009, when Midnight Oil reunited to play in undiminished form in Canberra and Melbourne, one reviewer spoke for many fans in stating that they were 'the best live band Australia has ever produced, hands down'.

DimensionsHeight: 124.0
Width: 182.0

Access No.2001.192.1

Credit LineCollection: National Portrait Gallery, Canberra Commissioned with funds from the Basil Bressler Bequest 2001

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