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Ante Dabro

{{Short description|Croatian Australian sculptor}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}

{{Use Australian English|date=July 2012}}

File:Ante Dabro and Chiko.JPG, 2011. Behind (L-R) are the full sized models for "Genesis", "Resilience", the unassembled pieces of "Mother and Child", and his Australian Silky Terrier, Chico.]]

File:AS Navy 1.jpg, Anzac Parade, Canberra]]

Ante Dabro (born 13 January 1938, Čavoglave, Croatia) is a Croatian-born Australian artist/sculptor and art teacher who has lived and worked in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory since the late 1960s.

Dabro's sculptures are typified by angular form; many are nudes and bronzes. His work is said to embody universal themes, "suffering, hope, sexuality, heroism, spirituality" but also silently acknowledge the 'outsider'.[http://antedabro.maven.com.au/html/introduction2.html Ante Dabro: Croatian born-Australian Sculptor] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060819200335/http://antedabro.maven.com.au/html/introduction2.html |date=19 August 2006 }}, Dr Peter Read, Australian National University, accessed 29 January 2008

Principal works

A selection of Dabro's works are listed:

  • Royal Australian Navy Memorial, Canberra - Sailors and Ships - Interaction and Interdependence (1986), unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II on 1986-03-03, the 75th anniversary of the Navy.
  • Australian National University:[http://facilities.anu.edu.au/files/181_05-sculpture%20brochure.pdf Sculpture on Acton Campus] (brochure), Australian National University, accessed 29 January 2008
  • Contemplation (2002) - a response to the poetry of Judith Wright
  • Sir Winston Churchill (2001) - Winston Churchill Trust
  • Brindabella Business Park, Canberra Airport; these are in the collection of the airport's owner, Terry Snow, and are on loan to BBP:
  • four bronzes at water features, Susanne, Dancer, and The Bathers,[http://www.canberraairport.com.au/pdfs/Hub31.pdf The Bathers unveiled] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829235817/http://www.canberraairport.com.au/pdfs/Hub31.pdf |date=29 August 2007 }}, The Hub magazine, Canberra Airport, February 2006, accessed 29 January 2008 all dated 2005[http://www.brindabellabusinesspark.com.au/bbp-workinginthepark/art.cfm Artist in residence] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913032816/http://www.brindabellabusinesspark.com.au/bbp-workinginthepark/art.cfm |date=13 September 2009 }}, Brindabella Business Park website, accessed 2009-08-23
  • a bronze figure Genesis (2009), unveiled 2009-06-02 by the Governor General of Australia, Quentin Bryce.[http://www.canberraairport.com.au/media%20releases/MediaRelease09_2Jun.pdf Governor General of Australia to open sculpture by world-renowned Artist Ante Dabro] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913180235/http://www.canberraairport.com.au/media%20releases/MediaRelease09_2Jun.pdf |date=13 September 2009 }}, media release, 2009-06-02, accessed 2009-08-23
  • Canberra City
  • "Resilience" (2009)
  • Saint Matthew, (1984), St Matthew's Roman Catholic Church, Page, ACT

Image:Susane-Ante_Dabro.JPG|Susanne (2005), life-sized bronze nude, sits on a wall beside a reflecting pond, BBP.

Image:Dancer-Ante_Dabro.JPG|Dancer (2005), 1.5 life-sized bronze nude, in a reflecting pool, BBP.

Image:Bathers-Ante_Dabro.JPG|The Bathers (2005), two 1.5 life-sized bronze nudes, in a reflecting pool, BBP.

Image:Ante_Dabro_two_figures.jpg|Genesis (2008/9); 1.5 life-sized bronze nude, eastern end of BBP.

Image:Ante_Dabro_signature_Genesis.JPG|Genesis signature incorporating the face of Chiko (Australian Silky Terrier)

Image:St_Matthew_1984_Ante_Dabro.JPG|St Matthew, (1984); life-size bronze.

Image:Ante_Dabro_Standing_figure_1981-82.JPG|Standing figure, (1981–82); 3/4-to-full life size bronze.

File:Sisters (sculpture) 05.jpg|Sisters , (1985), two life-sized bronze nudes, Queensland Art Gallery

File:Ante Dabro - two figures.jpg|Bronze statues by Ante Dabro, Qantas gates, Canberra Airport

Career

Staircase thefts

On the Staircase is a group of four stylised male figures, progressively smaller as they are further up a staircase of diminishing size, all in bronze. The figures are each reading a book. It cost $80,000. After it was again vandalised,[http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/petrie-plaza-sculpture-vandalised-again-figure-stolen-20131208-2yzjp.html Petrie Plaza sculpture vandalised again, figure stolen],

Stephanie Anderson and Ben Westcott, The Canberra Times, 9 December 2013 in the local media it was attributed to Ante Dabro.[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-09/thieves-hit-statue-in-canberras-cbd/5144298 Stairway sculpture hit again by thieves in Civic], ABC News Online, 9 December 2013 Yet, it had been attributed correctly weeks earlier by another outlet to Danish artist, Keld Moseholm[http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/little-guys-are-back-with-some-bigtime-protection-20131029-2wefy.html Little guys are back with some big-time protection], Helena Virgo, The Canberra Times, 30 October 2013, accessed 9 December 2013 Dabro was quoted in local media, as being upset to the vandalism of art, perhaps adding to the confusion among the media. The smallest figure was removed on 8 December 2013, with the act visible on footage from a CCTV camera, with two women shown shortly before the theft. After the publicity, on the following day the figure was handed into a local ACT Police station.

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category|Ante Dabro}}

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20070829051345/http://antedabro.maven.com.au/ Dabro's web site]
  • [http://antedabro.blogspot.com Recent works]

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Category:1938 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Ružić, Croatia

Category:Croatian sculptors

Category:20th-century Australian sculptors

Category:21st-century Australian sculptors

Category:Artists from Canberra