Lindsay Anderson on 'Workers'

Lindsay Anderson was the gallery director of Art Affairs Gallery in Carlton, Melbourne. He wrote this article for Lean’s first solo exhibition in Melbourne , ‘Kindred Spirits’ held at Art Affairs Gallery from 28 June to 9 July 2000.

‘Workers’ pay homage to ‘all those who make an honest living with their hands’. The subjects are local to a specific area in Singapore, coincidentally known as Arcadia. Much has changed in Singapore but, in this enclave, something remains of the Singapore that was.

It is obvious that Lean is fascinated by the hooded grasscutters that scythe their way through lush parklands, the street sweepers that swish with tufted brooms and gardeners that blend so well with the foliage that surrounds them – their crusted hands at one with the soil. There is great dignity to all the workers she has chosen to record in charcoal, paint and wax pencil.

With her grasscutters she has expressed visually what the poet Robert Frost has so sensitively put into words…

I went to turn the grass once after one
Who mowed it in the dew before the sun.

The dew was gone that made the blade so keen
Before I cam to view the leveled scene.

But he had gone his way, the grass all mown,
And I must be, as he had been – alone,

“As all must be,” I said within my heart,
“Whether they work together or apart.” RF

Sweeper #2, 1998, Oil on canvas,30 x 25 cm. Sold

Sweeper#3, 1998, Oil on canvas,
30x25cm. Sold

Both Lean and Robert Frost are fascinated by grasscutters and in them, they have found kindred spirits to their own. There is certainly a common bond that links the grasscutter, sweeper, gardener and this could extend to include painter and poet.

Another poem by Robert Frost, that is written in dialogue form, speaks of a worker who deals skillfully with wood. One of the participants wants to classify this man as a carpenter, joiner or cabinet-maker. The poet says no to this notion and ends the poem by saying…

“And I think he is just a man, expressing himself.” RF

Gardener at Hillcrest Arcadia, 1997

Wax pencil. Sold

It may be possible for us all to contribute some measure of dignity to the various jobs we do – to express ourselves in ways that are uniquely ours. Lean’s grasscutters and sweepers, gardener and cleaner, achieve this.


Lindsay Anderson
June 2000

To view other drawings and paintings of 'Workers', go to:

http://picasaweb.google.com/leanim.chew/Workers#