Unstoppable Force, An - Betty Churcher with John Olsen

2008, 26 Minutes

Widely regarded as Australia's greatest living artist, the exuberant 80-year-old John Olsen talks with acclaimed art commentator Betty Churcher about his life's work. Still painting with all his creative energy in his studio in the NSW Southern Highlands, Olsen speaks of the influence of poetry and Spain on his art and his restless love of Sydney Harbour and the Australian bush. Now at the height of his creative powers, Olsen has won many awards including the prestigious Archibald Prize in 2005 for his Self Portrait Janus Faced. As Churcher says, "He is an artist whose lust for life has few parallels in Australian art".

A Film Australia National Interest Program in association with Early Works. Produced in association with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. © 2011 National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.