Once you’re famous there’s just no way to keep your letters out of the hands of the curious! Letters give us a humanising insight into the private world of an artist. They can provide a glimpse into their daily life, travel, friendships, moments of joy and despair as well as their creative process — that’s why we love to read them. And there’s a strange pleasure too in seeing the handwriting of an artist that we admire.
Testimony of friendship: The letters of Ian Fairweather to Marion Smith
After leaving the peaceful English Channel island of Jersey where renowned artist Ian Fairweather (1891-1974) was raised, his life was characterised by travel and turbulence until he settled on Bribie Island off the north coast of Brisbane, Queensland, at the age of 61. During the next two decades, the famously reclusive artist frequently corresponded with friends and family and many of his letters survived, including those he wrote to Marion Smith which are now held in the QAGOMA Research Library.
Marion Smith (1938-2008) was born in Sandgate in Brisbane and after living in Deagon, Red Hill and New Farm in Brisbane, she moved to Paddington in Sydney. She worked as a stenographer at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, and helped Fairweather type the manuscript for The Drunken Buddha (University of Queensland Press, 1965), his English translation of a popular Chinese tale which he illustrated with his paintings. Smith visited the artist on Bribie Island and through that initial contact, they became penfriends.
Photograph of Marion Gwendolyn Smith from her British Passport, Commonwealth of Australia, issued in Brisbane, 2 July 1959 / Image courtesy: Eugenie Law-Smith
As well as being a testimony to their friendship, the letters shed light on Fairweather’s personality, his day-to-day existence on Bribie Island and his sadness as Bribie changes with the opening of the bridge connecting it to the mainland, his enduring love of nature, fascination with the Chinese language, reading habits, quirky and quarrelsome nature, and his evolution as a painter. The letters between the two friends are at times poignant, funny, troubling and occasionally, a heartbreaking read.
Read a selection of 23 letters and their transcripts from Fairweather to Smith
Ian Fairweather: A Life in Letters includes 354 transcripts from the 700 known letters written by Fairweather. Given the Fairweather’s solitary and singular life his dedication to correspondence can be seen as a paradox and a form of communication that best suited his choice of lifestyle. A Life in Letters (Text Publishing, 2019), edited by Claire Roberts and John Thompson was supported by the Australian Research Council, QAGOMA, and former Gallery trustee Philip Bacon AM
QAGOMA Research Library
The QAGOMA Research Library is located on Level 3 of the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA). Open to the public Tuesday to Friday 10.00am to 5.00pm. visit us in person or explore the online catalogue. Access to special collections is available by appointment.
Feature image detail: Letter from Ian Fairweather to Marion Smith
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art stands and recognise the creative contribution First Australians make to the art and culture of this country.
