Artists statement

"The landscape of the Valley is in between Ballarat and Geelong, the pranged aeroplane came from Geelong, the prospector and the strolling couple are surreal props to the scene, and the poetic hippogriffen serves as a bunyip which could be a local connotation of apprehension od bush loneliness.

Historical information

Bernard BOLES (1912-2001)

Born Benalla, Victoria



Bernard Boles studied at Melbourne Technical College and in London. He was known as critic, writer, sculptor and painter. His works were influences by Cubism and Surrealism. Boles exhibited widely in London and on his return to Australia in 1964.



"Boles drew on the biomorphic marine imagery typical of Surrealism all around the world, as seen for example in the work of Wadsworth and Yves Tanguy. In 1949 Boles, having been rejected from the Victorian Artists’ Society, would tie two pictures to the fence outside the show and spend the ensuing two weeks sharing his views on art with passersby." ('Surrealism and Australia: towards a world history of Surrealism' by Rex Butler and A.D.S. Donaldson)



This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 1000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.

Physical description

Framed Australian Surrealist work.

Artist's Comment:
"The landscape of the Valley is in between Ballarat and Geelong, the pranged aeroplane came from Geelong, the prospector and the strolling couple are surreal props to the scene, and the poetic hippogriffen serves as a bunyip which coul dbe a local connotation of apprehension od bush loneliness.

Gift of Lyndsay Boles.