The iconic ‘Three Well-Known Australians’ has made its way to Melbourne’s west for a limited time.
The work, painted by Martin Shaw in 1982, depicts three figures – a blue, a red and a green person – against a yellow background.
Shaw invites viewers to record who they think the figures are in the yearbooks, with some of the public’s answers displayed as part of the exhibition.
He described the touring exhibition as a “passing parade” of Australia which forms a portrait of the country over time.
“When I did the painting, I did have three Australians in mind, or Australian themes,” Shaw told Star Weekly.
But he has never revealed who the identities are.
The touring exhibition has been travelling across the country since 1983, with its stop in Brimbank marking its 267th visit.
“Some people put contemporary names, some have put the past. Some have given me realistic opinions, some are more abstract themes,” Shaw said.
“Some people have put down the Reserve Bank, some put Bondi Beach. Other people put down political parties.
“Ned Kelly, he’s the most prominent person to be recorded in the book.”
Among those who have provided answers is Premier Jacinta Allan who guessed Lauren Jackson, Uncle Jack Charles and Julia Gillard for the blue, red and green figures respectively.
Last year, the first person to ever record their responses died.
On 30 April, 1983 Ian Gude, a solicitor from Mannerim, wrote his guesses of Malcolm Fraser, Andrew Peacock and John Halfpenny as the blue, red and green figures.
Shaw said members of the public, especially those who are younger, may not recognise any of the names guessed by Gude.
The one figure in the painting that doesn’t remain a mystery is a small black and white dog painted toward the right side of the work.
The dog is Shaw’s beloved Pea who died in 1991.
“I’ve told you who Pea is, now you have to tell me who the Australians are,” Shaw said.
‘Three Well-Known Australians’ can be viewed for free at the Brimbank Gallery and Sunshine Library, 301 Hampshire Road until Friday 27 February.
