While this theme has never been a targeted focus of the collection, its proliferation through mid-century art in particular reveals that in the post-War era Australian artists were retreating from the external world and seeking solace in internal, subjective and personal spiritual concepts.

Described as the rise of ‘Spiritual Modernism’, the 1950s and 60s saw Australian artists shift away from creating art for church doctrine to seek out images of spirituality and existentialism. Looking beyond traditional Biblical subjects (though these abound in many works featured), artists used their work as a means of processing the horrors of the Holocaust and the ongoing threat of nuclear war.

In Europe artists such as Francis Bacon, Henry Moore and Graham Sutherland rose to prominence, while Australia also saw a surge in artists seeking deeper metaphysical meaning, resulting in deeply spiritual—though often secular and non-traditional—new modes of expression.

Featuring in this exhibition are works by Arthur and David Boyd, Ann Greenwood, Julius Komjati, Pam Hallandal, Klaus Zimmer and Roger Kemp, alongside many others.

Genesis will also mark the first appearance for many artworks that have been recently received as donations to the Gallery, through the generosity of many donors such as Elizabeth Cross, Vincent Langford in memory of James Mollison AO, Jenny Zimmer, David Angel, Dr Peter Kingsbury and the Reverend Ian Brown.

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