ROBERT OWEN is interviewed in The Age’s Spectrum today!
Ray Edgar speaks to Robert about some of his career highlights, including heading the sculpture department at RMIT, representing Australia at the Venice Biennale, and his recognisable architectural commissions such as the Webb Bridge at Docklands and the Craigieburn Bypass over the Hume. The two also discuss Robert's time as a ‘boho expat’ on the Greek island of Hydra in the 60s, his mentorship by Leonard Cohen and his study of Buddhism, alchemy and theoretical physics.
Edgar writes: “Witnessing a natural phenomenon in Hydra had a...profound impact: an eclipse of the sun creating a spectacular spectrum. Beguiled from that moment, Owen sought to recreate its numinous light. “I wanted the spectrum,” Owen declares. “that’s the colour I wanted to see. I was interested in this inner self, that’s the soul inside, that’s full of light”.
Edgar also looks into the breadth of the 70 works now showing in Owen’s retrospective at HEIDE and speaks to curator Sue Cramer.