Work of art creates continuing curiosity for country

AN exhibition at the Lerderderg Library has captured national interest about the people represented within it.

Three Well Known Australians presents colourful, faceless figures that have toured the nation for 43 years.

People have the chance to guess who the figures are. They can record their answers in letters and yearbooks.

As the show continues to tour, Australians are able to see what others have written in the past.

The opinions themselves, artist Martin Shaw said, created a portrait of Australia.

Shaw thought of the idea while conducting market research in his youth.

“What people recorded in the 1980s in the yearbooks will be different today,” he said.

Shaw said he aims to spark curiosity.

“What people will do in, say, 50 years’ time, they’ll look at these yearbooks and they’ll say, ‘Who are these people?’,” he said. “They’ll get their iPhone and Google these names.

“Some names will endure the test of time, some won’t.”

Shaw said because the exhibition still toured, Australians could read what they themselves might have written years ago.

He said they might look at a painting and question why they offered their answers when their opinions might have changed.

“But it all adds to the portrait,” he said.

Notable Australians who have offered answers included Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan.

Albanese offered three sets of guesses with entertainment and political themes.

Three Well Known Australians is free to view at the Lerderderg Library, Bacchus Marsh until 29 May. It will then be shown at Ballan Library and Community Hub until 24 June.