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National Indigenous Times (www.nit.com.au)
July 12,2007 p. 45
Column Name: A Sideline Glance
by Ken Rowsthorne Esq.
The Man For All Seasons
Born on the 26th of December 1941 near Forster NSW, in a family of 16
brothers and sisters, Gordon Syron first saw the light of day in a
world full of total conflict. In fact most of Gordon's
life has involved conflict.
At school he played league,boxed and was sportsman of the year at the Buladelah High School two years in a row.
1960 saw him undertake a mature aged boxing career, winning the light welterweight golden gloves in the process.
Life then took a turn for the worse. Gordon was sentenced to life in prison after he shot a man.
After ten years inside, and with a lot of work by his relatives and
Robert Tickner who was involved in Indigenous affairs for the Federal
Labor Government at the time, Gordon was released.
While in the big house, he turned his hand to painting and upon release
he was granted $25,000 from the government to continue his artistic
work.
He then married Elaine, a professional photographer, and together the two produced some stunning artwork.
In an amateurish attempt at deciphering one of my favourite Syron
works, we see a courtroom scene with a black jury and judge, and
a white man in the charge box... a truly' un-Australian scene.
His work is beautifully done, an exquisite form of story telling. Many
tell an unfortunate human story in canvas, detailing the disgraceful
manipulation of the Indigenous people in this country.
Through the medium of paint, Syron speaks in silent tones of problems in the world, problems he hopes to highlight on canvas.
Gordon Syron, now in his late-sixties is remarkably fit and mentally
alert. His fine features and professional aura is also often displayed
in his many paintings, as they are chiefly about his own life
experiences.
The man has a gift, a wonderful gift of absolute beauty on canvas. His
paintings deserve a swell of public demand. It's an undeniable culture
bonanza for this generation and especially for the one to follow.
This talent must be encouraged for it enriches the time-basis of Indigenous culture.
Gordon Syron's a determined man of great feeling, understanding and humanity.
So what is needed now is recognition of this great artist.
When we meet, I find Gordon standing alongside one of his paintings:
it's a wonderful Indigenous specimen on a huge canvas, an Indigenous
warrior of a desert tribe. The constant negativity usually reserved for
Indigenous people has been swept aside, all that remains is a magnetic
looking human being.
We have seen the exceptional paintings of Albert Namatjira, and the
shameless way he was exploited is well known now, he was used-up and
spat out on the pavement of life.
But the name 'Namatjira' will live on forever, as will his art, and
like Gordon Syron, their legacy will hang on walls for an eternity.
And as for those who chose to exploit rather than nuture? Their names
are fly dirt on the pages of history, lost in a haze of corruption.
I met a great artist today, a bold Indigenous man, Gordon Syron.
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