Johore Causeway, Singapore Accession Number: ART23372

Description

Ernest Buckmaster was born in Hawthorn, Melbourne on July 3 1897. After being rejected for military service due to his physical frailty Buckmaster attended the National Gallery Art School from 1918-24. Ernest Buckmaster was first offered a position as an official war artist on January 20 1945, following the recommendation of the previous Director of the National Art Gallery of New South Wales, James Stuart Macdonald, though he did not accepted his appointment until August 24 1945, following the completion of a commission in New Zealand. Due to his age of 48 and poor health Buckmaster was not enlisted in the army and was accredited as a war correspondent. Despite being commissioned to paint the Japanese surrender, after a lengthy process preparing to be transported to Singapore, Buckmaster, along with a group of correspondents and photographers arrived two days after the surrender ceremony.

This painting depicts the Johore Causeway which connects the Island of Singapore to the mainland of Malaya at the town of Johore Bahru. Singapore is in the distance. This is the only means of travelling between the two places by road or railway.

Details

Conflicts

• Second World War, 1939-1945

Places

• Johore Bahru

Tags

• Loan collection (Art)
• Bridges
• Railways