Kristian Fredrikson (1940–2005) was a stage and costume designer for opera, drama, ballet, film and television. Born in New Zealand, Fredrikson's training as an artist began with classes at the Wellington Polytechnic College, which he undertook while working as a journalist and reviewer. In the early 1960s, having completed a theatre design apprenticeship, he moved to Australia and assisted with the design for The Australian Ballet's Aurora's Wedding (1964). Resident designer for the Melbourne Theatre Company from 1966 to 1974, he also designed a great number of productions for The Australian Ballet, the Australian Opera, the Western Australian Opera, the South Australian Opera and the Sydney Theatre and Sydney Dance companies. From 1975 onwards, Fredrikson collaborated regularly with Graeme Murphy, working with him on many productions including Body of Work for the Sydney Dance Company and Tivoli, a co-production with The Australian Ballet. His numerous awards include three Helpmann Awards and an Australian Dance Award for services to dance (1999). The Arts Centre Melbourne presented a retrospective exhibition of his work in 1995, and in 2008 the Kristian Fredrikson Scholarship for Design in the Performing Arts was established in his memory.
Peter Brew-Bevan's photograph shows the designer at home, surrounded by shelves overflowing with books and CDs. Notoriously private, Fredrikson looks at the camera with one hand covering half his face.
Purchased 2001
© Peter Brew-Bevan
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