In 2015, three of Sydney’s key public galleries, Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Mosman Art Gallery and S.H. Ervin Gallery, produced the first Destination Sydney exhibition, working together to present a new visual interpretation of Sydney inspired by the city’s irresistible siren call to, and influence on, key 20th century Australian artists. The exhibition was well-received through critical acclaim, multiple awards and blockbuster levels of visitation.

Seeking both to emulate and build upon this success, our institutions have renewed this partnership with the development of the second exhibition in this series, Destination Sydney: re-imagined.

This exhibition revisits the central concept of celebrating the power of Sydney’s landscape, while also following the evolutionary art practices and creative spirit that embody the visual culture of Sydney. Destination Sydney: re-imagined displays a critical mass of well-loved works as well as reveals genuine treasures by the selected artists. The selection of artists has been based on holdings in the collections of the three galleries, on their exhibition histories and on the thematic interpretation of the curators.

Manly’s waterfront location makes it a fitting site for the early 20th century beachscapes of Ethel Carrick Fox (including the famous works of Manly Beach and Balmoral Beach), the Pittwater and harbour views of modernist painter Adrian Feint, and the contemporary harbour landscapes of Ken Done. All three artists have strong links to the Northern Beaches and are represented in Manly Art Gallery & Museum’s permanent collection.

Mosman’s selection of Roy de Maistre, Robert Klippel and Michael Johnson reflects an evolution in the interpretation of landscape and its progression from modernism to abstraction, linked by their use of colour. Michael Johnson grew up in Mosman and his works form part of the Mosman Art Collection.

S.H. Ervin Gallery’s central Sydney location made the selection of Nicholas Harding, Wendy Sharpe and Jeffrey Smart obvious; they all share a fascination with the evolving inner-city, each approaching it in their own distinctive way.

We hope you enjoy this exhibition and that you visit Mosman Art Gallery and the S.H.Ervin Gallery to experience the whole exhibition. One exhibition, three galleries, nine artists.