British Critic Hits Australian 'Cascade of Diarrhea' Art Exhibition, Artist John Olsen Defends Australian Art

A UK art critic slammed the art exhibition of the Royal Academy's new Australia exhibition for being "lightweight, provincial and dull." One of Britain's leading critics also said some of the Australian art on display is "reminiscent of liquid crap."

The review of the Australian art exhibition of the Royal Academy in London was described by Waldemar Januszczak, a critic and writer for the Sunday Times, as "tourist tat." He called Frederick McCubbin's The Pioneer as "poverty porn" while calling the desert landscape of Fred Williams as "thick cowpats of minimalism."

Mr Januszczak tore down John Olsen's Sydney Sun as "successfully evoking the sensation of standing under a cascade of diarrhea." This was his most vivid metaphor in describing what the National Gallery praised as magnificent work by one of Australia's most distinguished artists. The "Sydney Sun" was bought for half a million dollars in 2000.

The artist, John Olsen, dismissed the "cascade of diarrhea" comment and searing review of the UK critic as an extremely foolish attempt to "put colonials in their place."

Mr Olsen said he was inspired by NASA's photos of the sun showing globules of energy radiating from the source. He said it was not a simple idea and anyone was free to call it a "cascade of diarrhea" or energy.

Mr Olsen believes the art exhibit of the Royal Academy demonstrates how Australians have their own way of looking at things and interpret them through art. He said the artists "don't give a damn" about what critics will say.

The Royal Academy art exhibit showcaseds Australia's most admirable painters and their works. It aims to display the best of Australian art from pre-Colonial times to the latest contemporary works.

The Royal Academy art show has attracted mixed reviews with some people complaining that the art exhibit is getting old. Although The Times gave the Australian art exhibit four stars, the Sunday Times did not agree with its sister publication.

Mr Januszczak and his acerbic tongue said the contents of the Australian art exhibition looked provincial. He was left wondering how people in Australia became artists.