Rodney T Swan
Dr Rodney T Swan is an Adjunct Academic at the University of New South Wales, Sydney with a PhD awarded in June 2016, and a Masters in Arts Administration (2011). He has published and presented numerous academic papers based on his thesis; “Resistance and Resurgence; the cultural and political dynamic of the livre d’artiste and the German Occupation of France”. His current research, a continuation of his PhD research, focuses on the emergence of the twentieth century French artists book as a strategic instrument of cultural resistance in France during the Second World War. He is specifically analysing the wide spectrum of innovative codes and symbols that artists camouflaged in the images of their books to communicate their anti-occupation messages. His PhD thesis also reveals a hitherto unreported post-war resurgence of the artist’s book in France. Previously, he was in business in a 35-year professional career in both the government and private sector, in London and Sydney. He also has a BSc(Hons) (Engineering) and a Masters of Technology.
List of Publications and Presentations.
“Beautiful Body, Broken Body – Documenting cultural conflict through the French artist’s book.” Paper presented at the Art Association of Australia and New Zealand Conference, Canberra, Australia, November 2016.
“Turning Point – The Aesthetic Genealogy behind Picasso’s Illustrations of Reverdy’s Le Chant des Morts.” Chapter Five in “Art and the Book” ed Peter Stupples, pub Cambridge Scholar, November 2016. Based on a paper presented at the Art and Book Symposium, Dunedin, New Zealand, October 2014.
“The Manuscrit Moderne: Realising Tériade’s Vision – A Further Analysis.” Literary Studies Convention, Wollongong, Australia, July 2015.
“All that Jazz.” Paper presented at the Bibliographical Society of Australia and New Zealand Conference, Canberra, Australia, November 2014.
“The Modern Illuminated Manuscript: Realising Tériade’s Vision.” Paper presented at the Bibliographical Society of Australia and New Zealand Conference, Sydney, Australia, November 2013.
“Unity is strength – Creating and Mining an Electronic Database of 20th Century French Illustrated Books.” Paper presented at the Bibliographical Society of Australia and New Zealand Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand, November 2012.
“The Body Beautiful, the Body Broken – Hidden Codes and Messages in the Artist’s Illustrated Book in Occupied France.” Paper presented at the Bibliographical Society of Australia and New Zealand Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand, November 2012.
“Secret Commissions – The Artist’s Illustrated Book and the French Resistance.” Paper presented at the Art Association of Australia and New Zealand Conference, Sydney, Australia, July 2012.
“Picasso – The Art of his Books.” Look 2 (Sydney: Art Gallery Society of New South Wales, 2012): 16–17.
“Passionate Embrace: Unity, Bonding and the Untold Romance of Text and Image.” Paper presented at the Art Association of Australia and New Zealand Conference, Wellington, New Zealand, December 2011.
“Crossing the Border: Text and Image Play with White Space and Colour in Matisse’s Poésies and Jazz.” Paper presented at the Annual Postgraduate Symposium, School of English, Media and Performing Arts, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, September 2011.
“Ancient Poets for a Modern Cause: Matisse’s Poèmes de Charles d’Orléans and Picasso’s Vingt Poemes (Góngora) Give Hope.” Paper presented at the Twelfth Humanities Graduate Research Conference, Curtin University, Western Australia, Australia, October 2011.
“Pathways and Progress to the Twentieth Century Livre d’Artiste.” Unpublished research paper. College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales, 2010.
List of Publications and Presentations.
“Beautiful Body, Broken Body – Documenting cultural conflict through the French artist’s book.” Paper presented at the Art Association of Australia and New Zealand Conference, Canberra, Australia, November 2016.
“Turning Point – The Aesthetic Genealogy behind Picasso’s Illustrations of Reverdy’s Le Chant des Morts.” Chapter Five in “Art and the Book” ed Peter Stupples, pub Cambridge Scholar, November 2016. Based on a paper presented at the Art and Book Symposium, Dunedin, New Zealand, October 2014.
“The Manuscrit Moderne: Realising Tériade’s Vision – A Further Analysis.” Literary Studies Convention, Wollongong, Australia, July 2015.
“All that Jazz.” Paper presented at the Bibliographical Society of Australia and New Zealand Conference, Canberra, Australia, November 2014.
“The Modern Illuminated Manuscript: Realising Tériade’s Vision.” Paper presented at the Bibliographical Society of Australia and New Zealand Conference, Sydney, Australia, November 2013.
“Unity is strength – Creating and Mining an Electronic Database of 20th Century French Illustrated Books.” Paper presented at the Bibliographical Society of Australia and New Zealand Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand, November 2012.
“The Body Beautiful, the Body Broken – Hidden Codes and Messages in the Artist’s Illustrated Book in Occupied France.” Paper presented at the Bibliographical Society of Australia and New Zealand Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand, November 2012.
“Secret Commissions – The Artist’s Illustrated Book and the French Resistance.” Paper presented at the Art Association of Australia and New Zealand Conference, Sydney, Australia, July 2012.
“Picasso – The Art of his Books.” Look 2 (Sydney: Art Gallery Society of New South Wales, 2012): 16–17.
“Passionate Embrace: Unity, Bonding and the Untold Romance of Text and Image.” Paper presented at the Art Association of Australia and New Zealand Conference, Wellington, New Zealand, December 2011.
“Crossing the Border: Text and Image Play with White Space and Colour in Matisse’s Poésies and Jazz.” Paper presented at the Annual Postgraduate Symposium, School of English, Media and Performing Arts, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, September 2011.
“Ancient Poets for a Modern Cause: Matisse’s Poèmes de Charles d’Orléans and Picasso’s Vingt Poemes (Góngora) Give Hope.” Paper presented at the Twelfth Humanities Graduate Research Conference, Curtin University, Western Australia, Australia, October 2011.
“Pathways and Progress to the Twentieth Century Livre d’Artiste.” Unpublished research paper. College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales, 2010.
less
Interests
Uploads
Other by Rodney T Swan
Conference Presentations by Rodney T Swan
The world had changed in post-World War II Europe and devastation lay all around. Two rivals Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse reached deep into their nationalistic history to engender a sense of security and stability. Matisse illustrating the 14th century poems of French born Charles de Valois, duc d’Orléans and Picasso illustrating those of 16th century Spanish born Luis de Góngora y Argote thus propelling these poets into the context of modernist literature. I will argue that the livre d'artiste of Matisse's Poèmes de Charles d'Orléans and Picasso's Vingt Poèmes de Góngora introduced a text-image dynamic that had complementary aesthetics. My proposition of the congruency of the ornamental imagery, decorations, hand written text and choice of poets will be demonstrated through my emerging four aesthetic theory. I will show similarities in the interpretative aesthetic of the text and image in both works and will explore both the visual aesthetic and the architectural modus of these illustrated books. I will also comment on the sensitive treatment of the poetry by both artists in not allowing the image to overpower the text but to add to the " joyfulness " of the work. These two illustrated books set the foundation for many similar renditions in the years ahead.
The world had changed in post-World War II Europe and devastation lay all around. Two rivals Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse reached deep into their nationalistic history to engender a sense of security and stability. Matisse illustrating the 14th century poems of French born Charles de Valois, duc d’Orléans and Picasso illustrating those of 16th century Spanish born Luis de Góngora y Argote thus propelling these poets into the context of modernist literature. I will argue that the livre d'artiste of Matisse's Poèmes de Charles d'Orléans and Picasso's Vingt Poèmes de Góngora introduced a text-image dynamic that had complementary aesthetics. My proposition of the congruency of the ornamental imagery, decorations, hand written text and choice of poets will be demonstrated through my emerging four aesthetic theory. I will show similarities in the interpretative aesthetic of the text and image in both works and will explore both the visual aesthetic and the architectural modus of these illustrated books. I will also comment on the sensitive treatment of the poetry by both artists in not allowing the image to overpower the text but to add to the " joyfulness " of the work. These two illustrated books set the foundation for many similar renditions in the years ahead.