Melbourne art scene in the 1950s: Philippe Mora home movies – Part 2

In the 1950s, the artist Mirka Mora was at the centre of a vibrant Melbourne scene of painters, sculptors, actors and dancers who prized spontaneity, creativity and the unconventional. We are fortunate to hold in our collection a series of 8mm home movies taken by Gerty Anschel, which document this world. And we’re more fortunate still that Mirka’s son, Philippe Mora, who donated the films and appears in them as a child, recorded his memories of the locations and people.  

These scenes were shot around 1954 and 1955 and feature Arthur Boyd at work on his 1956 Melbourne Olympic statue and the property of Roger de Stoop.  

Anschel composed her footage with an artist’s eye. The films give an impression of a community of artists who embraced play, relished the sensual world and were bound by close friendships. It’s a loving record of Melbourne’s bohemian scene and an illuminating glimpse into the private lives of some of our foremost artists. 

The footage begins with artist friends strolling around Roger de Stoop's home. Guests picnic in the bush, including Alan Wynn, Georges Mora, Laurence Hope, Sally Wynn, Simon Wynn, Mirka Mora and Gerty Anschel. Mirka prepares food; in the garden are John Perceval, Mary Perceval (now Lady Nolan), Matthew Perceval, Neil Douglas and Hernia Boyd.

We see Neil Douglas painting and Arthur Boyd’s ceramic sculptures on display at the Herald Outdoor Art Show in Melbourne. Boyd works on his (commissioned) ceramic sculpture for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics in his studio at Murrumbeena. Mirka Mora and Georges Mora assist Arthur Boyd with ceramic pieces. Also featured are Jamie Boyd and a large group of artists' children (including Philippe Mora and Danny Anschel) making ceramic works in Boyd’s studio. The clip ends with Boyd working onsite at the Olympic Stadium.

Explore more rare footage of 1950s Melbourne art scene