Conservators and scientists at the Canberra Museum and Gallery are using cutting-edge forensic imaging technology typically reserved for crime laboratories and medical research to reveal hidden layers beneath Sidney Nolan's iconic Ned Kelly painting series. The groundbreaking investigation is uncovering secret artworks and mysterious details that have remained unseen beneath the surface paint for decades.
Dr. Paula Dredge, Australia's leading Sidney Nolan scholar, explains that the renowned artist deliberately left parts of his work unexplained, encouraging viewers to make their own discoveries. "He liked the idea of being a bit mysterious and not explaining everything too much," Dr. Dredge said. "He would often say, 'There's more to this story, but I'm not going to tell you.'" This deliberate mystique has made the forensic examination particularly exciting for researchers.
One of the most remarkable discoveries involves a painting where the distinctive eyes of Luna Park appear to emerge from beneath the paint layers. Dr. Dredge confirmed that Nolan himself had mentioned this particular work was painted over an earlier Luna Park painting. The amusement park in St. Kilda, Melbourne, held deep personal significance for Nolan, who grew up nearby and would fall asleep listening to the sounds of people enjoying the rollercoaster at night. "He used to say he wished he was up there having as much fun with them," Dr. Dredge noted. Luna Park became a recurring theme throughout Nolan's artistic career and played an important role in his creative development.
The investigation has been made possible partly due to Nolan's choice of materials, particularly his use of household paint like Ripolin, which self-levels to create flat surfaces. Dr. Dredge explained that this characteristic allows textural inconsistencies to be detected through the paint layers. "They give you some clues that there's something underneath," she said. "But often you can't really tell what's underneath until you do some sort of imaging."
Dr. Dredge's interest in hidden paintings began during a collaboration with the Heide Museum of Modern Art in Melbourne. "We took one of the early Kelly paintings to the Australian Synchrotron [and] we did an X-ray map of it," she recalled. "We found that there was a whole other head underneath the Kelly mask. That was a real highlight discovery at the time, so ever since I've been trying to see those hidden paintings."
Celia Cramer, a conservator at the Canberra Museum and Gallery and member of the research team, explained how the infrared camera technology works. The equipment can penetrate surface layers of paint and detect whatever lies reflected beneath those layers. The team has uncovered an impressive array of hidden elements that only the artist himself had previously seen, including concealed figures, words, and newspaper clippings.
"We've seen a landscape that's been painted over with a yellow background," Dr. Cramer explained. "Possibly so that it draws attention to the main character, or possibly he didn't like it." The team has also discovered compositions that initially don't make sense in their current orientation, leading researchers to experiment with different viewing angles. "This recent one that we got, we've seen an early composition [but] it's not making sense. We're going to try and turn it upside down and see if maybe he painted it the other way around," she added.
Dr. Dredge believes that Nolan, who had a keen interest in science and technology, would have appreciated the modern methods being used to unlock the secrets of his artwork. "Sometimes when we find these things it just opens up new possibilities, new mysteries, new questions," she said. The discoveries don't provide simple answers but instead reveal the complex layers of Nolan's creative process and artistic evolution.
The scholar emphasized that Nolan's work continues to surprise researchers and art enthusiasts alike. "There's always new things that are hidden, things that are new to find in his paintings," Dr. Dredge said. "You never reach the bottom, you never get to a space where there's not another mystery." This endless potential for discovery makes each investigation into Nolan's work particularly rewarding for the research team.
The forensic examination of Nolan's Ned Kelly series represents part of a larger commemorative project celebrating the 50th anniversary of when Sidney Nolan generously gifted these significant works to the Australian people. The timing of this milestone provides an appropriate opportunity to deepen understanding of these culturally important paintings through advanced scientific analysis.
All discoveries and findings from this innovative forensic imaging project will be incorporated into the Canberra Museum and Gallery's major upcoming exhibition titled "Nolan: The Backstory," scheduled to open in 2027. This landmark exhibition promises to offer visitors unprecedented insights into the hidden depths and creative processes behind some of Australia's most beloved and iconic artworks.
