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In 1939 Fleischmann fled from Bali just before the Japanese invaded. He took the last
KLM flight from Java to Darwin in Northern Australia. It is a credit to his determined character
that he was able to organise for many of his works to accompany him.
He became an Australian citizen. |
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Fleischmann with the Merioola Group
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As early as 1939 he was elected a member of the Society of Artists in Sydney. In 1941 he became
a founder member of the Merioola Group and President of its artistic colony. The group took it's
name from the large house in Rosemont Avenue, Woollahra where Fleischmann lived with Donald Friend,
Harry Tatlock-Miller, Edgar Ritchard, Lounon Sainthill, Jocelyn Rickards, Alec Murray, John
Bannenberg, Justin O'Brien and Roland Strasser.
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His portrait commissions of that period include Cardinal Gilroy and Lord Gowry,
Sir Frederick Jotdan, Sir John Butters,Sir Percy Spender, the pianist Gaultiero
Volterra and violinist Jeanne Gautier. In 1944 one of the most interesting of Fleischmann's
work was created - the expressive bronze sculpture "Cyrano de Bergerac".
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Cyrano de Bergerac
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In 1946 he completed the "Wishing Tree" Memorial for the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney.
Everyday private people place flowers at the foot of this public sculpture.
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Bronze Doors
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In Australia Arthur Fleischmann is probably most well known for one work in particular -
the Bronze Doors on the State Library of New South Wales. The magnificent bronze doors were
given by Sir William Dixson in honour of David Scott Mitchell, both of whom were major benefactors
of the Library.
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The bronze relief panels on the doors depict the major explorers of the different regions
of the vast country of Australia. For some explorers Fleischmann had to use his imagination
and piece together written accounts and descriptions since there was often no photograph or
painting to work from.
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During the years spent in Australia Fleischmann´s interest in synthetic materials, mainly
resins, was aroused. He started experiments with unusual materials including phenolic resin,
creating various light effects, similar to that of amber or mineral crystals.
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Fleischmann with Phenolic Madonna
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During his stay in Australia he had a strong influence on contemporary Australian sculptors.
He exhibited with Lyndon Dadswell in Melbourne, at the David Jones Art Gallery in Sydney with
Daphne Mayo as well as in the Society of Artists and the Australian Academy.
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