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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

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The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Kim Bonython in his Sydney Gallery with work on exhibit by Col Jordan

c. 1970
Kerry Dundas

gelatin silver photograph on paper (frame: 41.5 cm x 34.0 cm, sight: 21.5 cm x 29.0 cm)

Hugh Reskymer 'Kym' Bonython AC DFC AFC (1920-2011), company director, art dealer, jazz authority, music promoter and speedway entrepreneur, was one of the most significant collectors and dealers of contemporary Australian art in the post-war period. Raised in Adelaide, where his grandfather and father had been leading philanthropists, he served in the RAAF during World War 2 before returning to the ABC as a broadcaster. His jazz program ran from 1937 to the mid-1970s. In the capacity of music promoter, Bonython brought scores of international jazz and rock acts to Australia. At the same time, he was a speedway impresario in Adelaide from 1954 to 1973 and won the Australian speedway championship in 1956. He operated the Hungry Horse Gallery and then the Bonython Gallery in Paddington from 1965 to 1976, and the Bonython Gallery in Adelaide from 1961 to 1983. Daniel Thomas recalls that Bonython epitomised the reasons why 'the whole of Australia in the early 60s looked toward Adelaide'. For fifteen years Bonython acted as art consultant to BHP and he advised in the formation of many important collections of Australian art for national and international clients, notably the Americans Benno Schmidt and Harold Mertz. Director of Austereo Ltd from 1979 to 1991, he sat on many arts-related boards and committees including Musica Viva, the Australia Japan Foundation, the South Australian Jubilee Board, the Adelaide Festival of the Arts and the Australia Council for the Arts. Bonython has written six books on Australian painting and his autobiography, Ladies' Legs and Lemonade, was published in 1979.

Purchased 2012
© Estate of Kerry Dundas

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Kerry Dundas (age 39 in 1970)

Kym Bonython (age 50 in 1970)

Subject professions

Visual arts and crafts

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

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