Staff Details

Name:	Dr Ken Wach
	PhD, LaTrobe; MA, LaTrobe; Dip. Art, BCAE; TTTC, Hawthorn; FRMIT, RMIT.
Position:	Visual Media
Area:	Art History
Phone:	+61 3 83448625
Fax:	+61 3 93448462
Room:	A404e
Email:	kenw@unimelb.edu.au

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Research Student Supervisions

	Gaynor Cuthbert	MCA	Visual Arts	completed	View Summary
	Gaynor Patricia Cuthbert	PHD	Visual Media (Art History)	current	- N/A -

Staff Profile - Dr Ken Wach

Associate Professor, Creative Arts, The University of Melbourne

Research profile:

Associate Professor Ken Wach lectures on the Art of Modernism and the Art and Theory of International Surrealism. His current research interests, post-graduate supervisions and academic activities are focussed on the art and aesthetics of Surrealism.

Dr. Ken Wach has acted as an academic consultant to the National Gallery of Australia, the National Gallery of Victoria, The Museum of Modern Art at Heide, the Salvador Dalí Museum in America, RMIT University, ABC Television and ABC Radio National. He is also a foundation member of the Advisory Boards of Deutscher-Menzies Fine Art Pty. Ltd. in Melbourne and Lawson-Menzies in Sydney.

He has convened an international conference, delivered two international and twelve national conference papers and given numerous public and institutional lectures in Australia, America, England and Spain.

He has also conducted academic research at the Museum of Modern Art and Columbia University in New York, the Courtauld Institute and the British Museum in London, the Reina Sofia Museum and the Residencia de Estudiantes in Madrid, the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida and the Gala-Salvador Dali Foundation in Figueres in Spain.

He has been awarded a number of peer review research and overseas study grants, given numerous guest lectures at universities and public institutions, delivered national and international scholarly conference papers and convened academic conferences for the Art Association of Australia and the Humanities Research Centre of the Australian National University.

He has published fifty papers and is the author of the following international publications:

1996:
1. Wach, K., Salvador Dalí: Masterpieces from the Collection of the Salvador Dalí Museum, New York, Harry N. Abrams, 1996. ISBN: 0-8109-3235-0 (hard cover), ISBN: 0-8109-2693-8 (paperback). (International book).

2000:
2. Wach, K., “Subjectivity Incorporated: The Surrealist Vignette in the Photography of Max Dupain”, Heather Johnson and Deborah Malor (Eds.) Australian and New Zealand Journal of Art, Sydney, Art Association of Australia and New Zealand, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2000, 107-130. ISSN: 1443 4318. (Refereed international academic journal article).

2002:
3. Wach, K., “Pablo Picasso’s ‘Weeping Woman’ of 1937”, “René Magritte’s ‘In Praise of Dialectics’ of 1937”, “Balthus’ ‘Nude with a Cat’ of 1949”, European Masterpieces: Six Centuries of Painting from the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, National Gallery of Victoria, 2000, Catalogue Entry Nos. 83, 84 and 87. ((Three catalogue entries for National Gallery of Victoria international traveling exhibition: USA – 2002-2003).

He has also published the following academic material:

Publications: National: 1990-2005.

1990:
4. Wach, K., “Alberto Giacometti: A Biography”, Journal of Australian Art Education, Sydney, NSW., Vol. 14, No. 5, December, 1990, 64-65. (Book review-non-refereed national journal article).

1991:
5. Wach, K., “Bloomsday Feast”, Art Monthly Australia, Canberra, ACT., July, No. 42, 1991, 27. (Refereed national academic journal article).

6. Wach, K., “The Alan McCullogh Art Collection”, Art Monthly Australia, Canberra, ACT., No. 44, October, 1991, 30-31. (Refereed national academic journal article).

7. Wach, K., “Australian Art: The Land and the Environment”, in Hammond, Geoff and Ian Watts, (Eds.), The Galleries Book, Brisbane, Queensland, Wileman Press, 1991, 26-27. ISBN: 0 949026 417. (Locally published book chapter).

1992:
8. Wach, K., “Contemporary Art Sustains Interest”, Art Monthly Australia, Canberra, ACT., No. 51, July, 1992. 24-25. (Refereed national academic journal article).

9. Wach, K., “Australians in Force at Leeds”, Art Monthly Australia, Canberra, ACT., No. 50, June, 1992, 1. (Refereed national academic journal article).

10. Wach, K., “The Alan Bond Art Collection”, Art Monthly Australia, Canberra, ACT., No. 52, August, 1992, 18. (Refereed national academic journal article).

11. Wach, K., “The Rise and Rise of Christie’s”, Art Monthly Australia, Canberra, ACT., No. 54, October, 1992, 31. (Refereed national academic journal article).

12. Wach, K., “The Art Market: Seek and Ye Shall Find”, Art Monthly Australia, ACT., Canberra, No. 56, December-February, 1992-1993, 26-27. (Refereed national academic journal article).

1993:
13. Wach, K., “Surrealism in Australia: The Transposed Response”, Art Monthly Australia, Canberra, ACT., March, No. 57, 1993, 11-14. (Refereed national academic journal article).

14. Wach, K., “The Pearl Divers of the Unconscious: Freud, Surrealism and Psychology”, in Chapman, Christopher; Gott, Ted; Lloyd, Michael, Surrealism: Revolution by Night, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT., 1993. ISBN: 0 642 13059 0. (Locally published book chapter).

15. Wach, K., “The Pearl Divers of the Unconscious”, The Australian Magazine, Sydney, NSW., Nationwide News Pty. Ltd., Saturday, February 27, 1993, 6-12. (This is an edited and illustrated excerpt from the above book chapter which was editorially selected for national promotion of the exhibition). (National newspaper magazine article).

16. Wach, K., “Australian Surrealism or Surrealism in Australia?”, Periphery, Lismore, NSW, Periphery Limited, Vol. 17, November, 1993, 3-5. (Non-refereed journal article).

2003:
17. Wach, K., “Australian Surrealism, The Agapitos/Wilson Collection”, The Australian Art Review, No. 3, Sydney, Text Media, 2003, 81-82.

18. Wach, K., “Australian Surrealism, The Agapitos/Wilson Collection”, The Australian Art Review, No. 3, Sydney, 2003. (longer On-line electronic version of the above paper).

2004:
19. Wach, K., “James Gleeson and Surrealism: The Inexhaustible Murmur”, James Gleeson: Beyond the Screen of Sight, Sydney, The Beagle Press in association with the National Gallery of Victoria, 2004, 24-50. ISBN: 0 947349 44 8 (hardcover); 0 947349 43 X (paperback). (Nationally published book chapter – major retrospective exhibition: National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, 2004; National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, 2005).

2005:
20. Wach, K., “Artists’ Gifts to the Melba Foundation”, Dame Nellie Melba CD catalogue notes for La somnabule, Ferdinand Hérold, The Richard Bonynge Edition, Melbourne, Melba Recordings Foundation, 2005, 35-44, MR 301087. (Nationally and internationally released commemorative CD recording).

2006:
21. Wach, K., “Giorgio de Chirico’s Les chevaux divins d”Achille, Balios et Xanthos”, 1963, (“The Divine Horses of Achilles, Balios and Xanthos”); “Kees van Dongen’s Deauville, Les Tentes, (Deauville, The Tents.) 1956” Australian and International Fine Art, Melbourne and Sydney, Deutscher-Menzies Fine Arts, 77-78; 79-80, 2006. (National auction house catalogue entries).

Publications: State: 1968-2005.

1968:
22. Wach, K., “Art Education”, Art Forum, Melbourne, Victoria, November, 1968, 10-12. (Non-refereed journal article).

23. Wach, K., “Albert Camus and the Concept of the Outsider”, The Journal of Secondary Education, Melbourne, Victoria, November 1968, 10-14. (Non-refereed association journal article).

1974:
24. Wach, K., “Kenneth Clark’s Romantic Art Versus Classic Art”, Art and Craft Teachers’ Journal, Melbourne, Victoria, September, 1974, 12-13. (Refereed association journal - book review).

1981:
25. Wach, K., “Doug Alexander: Potter and Paradigm”, Craft Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, August 1981, 18-19. (republished in Craft Australia, Sydney and the World Craft Council Journal, New York). (Non-refereed association journal article).

1990:
26. Wach, K., “Neville Bunning”, in Neville Bunning: A Commemoration, Melbourne, The Neville Bunning Foundation, 1990, 3-6. (republished in The Corian, Geelong Grammar School Magazine, Geelong, Victoria). (Special purpose in-memoriam non-refereed publication).

1993:
27. Wach, K., Surrealist Texts: The Inexhaustible Murmur, Melbourne, Victoria, State Library of Victoria, 1993, 1-8. ISBN: 0 7306 3489 2. (Locally published State exhibition catalogue essay).

1994:
28. Wach, K., “The Souvenirs of Sensation: Surrealism and its Objects”, in Juliana Engberg, (Ed.), The Aberrant Object: Women, Dada and Surrealism, Melbourne, Victoria, Heide Museum of Modern Art, 1994, 25-30 and 55. ISBN: 0 94710 424 0. (Locally published exhibition catalogue and book chapter).

1997:
29. Wach, K., “James Gleeson’s ‘Woman with Suspended Skull of 1938”, in Lauraine Diggins (Ed.) Modern Australian Art, Melbourne, Lauraine Diggins Fine Art, 1997. (Locally published private gallery exhibition catalogue entry).

30. Wach, K., “Shame about Dalí”, The Age, Saturday Extra, Saturday 22 November 1997, 11. (State newspaper book review).

1998:
31. Wach, K., “Dorothea Tanning’s ‘Guardian Angels’ of 1946”; “Leonora Carrington’s ‘El Arbol de la Vida’, (‘The Tree of Life’) of 1960”, in Rosemary Crumlin (Ed.) Beyond Belief: Modern Art and the Religious Imagination, Melbourne, Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, 1998, 90-91; 93-94. ISBN: 0 7241 0200 0. (Locally published State Gallery exhibition catalogue/book entries).

32. Wach, K., “René Magritte’s ‘La Voix du sang’, (‘Blood Will Tell’ or ‘The Voice of Blood’) of 1948”; “Kees van Dongen’s ‘Deauville, Les Tentes’, (“Deauville, The Tents”) of 1956”, in 19th & 20th Century Australian and European Paintings, Sculpture and Works on Paper, Melbourne, Deutscher-Menzies Pty. Ltd., July, 1998. 40-42; 48-50. ISBN: 0 908180 40 3. (Locally published auction catalogue entries).

1999:
33. Wach, K., “Surreal Dreams and Desires“, The Sunday Age, 17 October, 1999, 13. (State newspaper book review).

34. Wach, K., “Excerpts from the Transcript of a Talk by Anthony Pryor, 11th September, 1990: On Commissions” in Zimmer, Jenny, Anthony Pryor: Sculpture and Drawings 1974-1991, Macmillan, Melbourne, 1999, 190-191. ISBN: 0 95885743. (Locally published book chapter: edited lecture by Anthony Pryor).

2000:
35. Wach, K., “Jeffrey Smart’s ‘Over the Flaminia’ of 1986“; “James Gleeson’s ‘No. 7, Recollections’ of 1993“; “John Perceval’s ‘Floating Masks II’ of 1943”; “Weaver Hawkins’ ‘Rola’ of 1933“, in Australian Modern Masters, Melbourne, Deutscher-Menzies Pty. Ltd., May, 2000, 38-39; 40-41; 56-57; 62-63. ISBN 0 908180 64 0. (Locally published auction catalogue entries).

36. Wach, K., “Jeffrey Smart’s ‘Game’ of 1954“, Australian and International Paintings, including Contemporary Australian Art, Melbourne, Christies, May 2000, 110-112. ISBN 1 875 887 873 (Locally published auction catalogue entry).

2001:
37. Wach, K., “Anthony Pryor: Box Limits”, Heide Museum of Modern Art News, January 2001. (Locally published non-refereed newsletter).

38. Wach, K., Field, Caroline, Geoffrey Bartlett: Silver Cloud, Melbourne, Deakin University Press, 2001. ISBN 0 7300 2524 1, 23-37. (Locally published co-authored book).

2002:
39. Wach, K., “On Being Bohemian”, The Age, 19 January 2002, Saturday Arts Extra 10. (State newspaper book review).

40. Wach, K., “Jeffrey Smart’s ‘Over the Flaminia’ of 1986“, Australian and International Fine Art, Melbourne, Deutscher-Menzies Pty. Ltd., May, 2002, 64-65. ISBN 0 908180 64 0. (Locally published auction catalogue entry - reprinted).

41. Wach, K., Tracking the Tiger: The Paintings of Daniel Moynihan, Melbourne, Gallery 101, 2002. (Locally published exhibition catalogue).

42. Wach, K., “Que?: The Paintings of Chris Humphries”, Melbourne, Helen Gory Galerie, 2002. (Locally published exhibition catalogue essay).

2003:
43. Wach, K., National Gallery of Victoria: Rene Magritte, In Praise of Dialectics (L'eloge de la dialectique) 1937, oil on canvas, 65.5 x 54.0, Felton Bequest 1971, EA2-1971, Melbourne, National Gallery of Victoria, 2003. (NGV Electronic Touch Screen Text)

44. Wach, K., “Ivor Francis’ Bats of 1959”, Annual Collectors’ Exhibition, Melbourne, Lauraine Diggins Fine Art, 2003. (Locally published exhibition catalogue entry).

45. Wach, K., “René Magritte’s ‘In Praise of Dialectics’”, in Ted Gott (Ed.) 20th Century Painting and Sculpture in the International Collections of the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Trustees of the National Gallery of Victoria, 2003, 56-57. ISBN: 0 7241 0231 0 (Locally published reference work entry).

46. Wach, K., “Balthus ‘Nude with Cat””, Ted Gott (Ed.) 20th Century Painting and Sculpture in the International Collections of the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Trustees of the National Gallery of Victoria, 2003, 62-63. ISBN: 0 7241 0231 0 (Locally published reference work entry).

2004:
47. Wach, K., “Silver Cloud”, Bartlett Home Page, http://www.geoffreybartlett.com/writings/silver_cloud.html (Online reprint of 2001 Deakin University Exhibition Catalogue paper).

2005:
48. Wach, K., Pasion de multitudes: The Paintings of Chris Humphries, Melbourne, Helen Gory Galerie, 2005. (Locally published exhibition catalogue essay).

49. Wach, K., “Frida Kahlo and the Imagery of Tragedy”, Double Dialogues: Art and Pain, The University of Melbourne, 8 October 2004. (Refereed online publication).

His academic work and research is cited in the following publications:

Academic Citations: International:

1. Atherholt, Wayne, “Australian Scholar visits Museum”, MuseuMagazine, Summer/Spring, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA., The Salvador Dalí Museum, 1995, 6.

2. Illa, Mercè, “Un simposi trata de paliar en Figueres el olvido académico que sufre Dalí”, La Vanguardia, Barcelona, Spain, Thursday 19 September, 1996, 10.

3. Serrat, Jordi, “La Fundació Dalí obre els seus arxius”, Avui, Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday 18 September, 1996, 10.

4. D de G., “Prestigious especialistes inauguraran avui a Figueres el Simposi internacional Salvador Dalí”, Diari de Girona, Girona, Spain, Tuesday 17 September, 1996, 10.

5. Costa-Pau, Marta, “Un simposio internacional quiere recuperar el prestigio intelectual de Dalí”, El Pais, Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday 17 September, 1996, 10.

6. Cabeza, Elisabet, “Debat i beques per impulsar la recerca”, Avui, Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday 10 September, 1996, 10.

7. Anon., “Salvador Dalí: Masterpieces from the Collection of the Salvador Dalí Museum”, Publishers’ Weekly, New York, USA., Monday 7 October, 1996, 1.

8. Tush, Peter, “New Dalí Book by Kenneth Wach and Works by Dalí, the Writer/Illustrator featured in New Exhibit”, Dalí Museum News, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA, September/October, Vol. 1, No. 6, 1.

9. Abel, Glen, “Salvador Dalí: Masterpieces from the Collection of the Salvador Dalí Museum”, Hollywood Reporter, Los Angeles, California, USA., Monday 14 October, 1996, 19.

10. Anon., “Salvador Dalí: Masterpieces from the Collection of the Salvador Dalí Museum”, Washington Times, Washington, Washington DC., USA., Wednesday 27 November, 1996, 22.

11. Nizzi-Warmbold, Carolyn, “Salvador Dalí: Masterpieces from the Collection of the Salvador Dalí Museum”, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, USA., Sunday 1 December, 1996, 12.

12. Marger, Mary Ann, “Salvador Dalí: Masterpieces from the Collection of the Salvador Dalí Museum”, St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA., Sunday 1 December, 1996, 5.

13. Anon., “Salvador Dalí: Masterpieces from the Collection of the Salvador Dalí Museum”, San Antonio Express-News, San Antonio, Texas, USA., Friday 6 December, 1996, 18.

14. Arana-Ward, Marie, “Salvador Dalí: Masterpieces from the Collection of the Salvador Dalí Museum”, The Washington Post Book World, Washington, Washington DC., USA., Sunday 8 December, 1996, 84.

15. Marger, Mary Ann, “Dalí’s an Open Book”, St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA., Friday 13 December, 1996, 33.

16. Anon., “Salvador Dalí: Masterpieces from the Collection of the Salvador Dalí Museum”, Palm Beach, Florida News, Palm Beach, Florida, USA., Sunday 15 December, 1996, 8.

17. Anon., “Salvador Dalí: Masterpieces from the Collection of the Salvador Dalí Museum”, The Virginia Quarterly Review, Charlotteville, Virginia, Summer, 1997, 102.

18. Zak, Victor, “Stepping into the Dalí Zone in St. Petersburg”, Asbury Park Press, Asbury Park, Florida, Sunday 16 February, 1997, 39.

19. Contemporary Authors, Michigan, Gale Research, 1998.

20. Shelsher, Michelle, (Ed.) International Authors and Writers Who’s Who, Cambridge, England, International Biographical Centre, 1999.

21. Zimmer, Jenny, Anthony Pryor: Sculpture and Drawings 1974-1991, Macmillan, Melbourne, 1999, 190-191.

Academic Citations: National:

22. Chapman, Christopher, Surrealism in Australia, Canberra, ACT., National Gallery of Australia, 1993.

23. Lloyd, Michael, Surrealism: Revolution by Night, Canberra, ACT., National Gallery of Australia, 1993, ix.

24. McFarlane, Jenny, “Surrealism in Australia, A Complex Patois”, Art Monthly Australia, Canberra, ACT., July, No. 61, 1993, 21-22.

25. Clarke, Graeme, “Lips of Coral: Sex and Violence in Surrealism”, Humanities Research Centre Bulletin, Canberra, ACT., Australian National University, No. 71, June, 1993, 2-5.

26. Creed, Barbara, “The Aberrant Object: Women, Dada and Surrealism”, Art Monthly Australia, Canberra, ACT., May, 1994, 1-2.

27. Catalano, Gary, “States of Flux: Gary Catalano Interviews Rosslyn Piggott”, Art Monthly Australia, Canberra, ACT., August, No. 72, 1994, 15-17.

28. Heathcote, Christopher, “The Visceral Eye of James Gleeson”, Art Monthly Australia, Canberra, ACT., November, 1994, 26-28.

29. Barrowclough, Nikki, “Theatre of Dreams”, The Australian, Good Weekend Magazine, Sydney, NSW., Saturday, 16 September, 1995, 22-27.

30. Brophy, Kevin, Creativity: Psychoanalysis, Surrealism and Creative Writing, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1998, 123 and 259.

31. Wallace-Crabbe, Robin, “Bibliofile”, Art Monthly Australia, November, No. 115, Canberra, 1998, 30-31.

32. Sotheby’s, “Geoffrey Bartlett: ‘Pear-Bridge’”, Australian Paintings, November, Melbourne and Sydney, Sotheby’s, 2001, 79.

33. James, Bruce, Australian Surrealism The Agapitos/Wilson Collection, Sydney, The Beagle Press, 2004, 21, 56.

Academic Citations: State:

34. Heathcote, Christopher, “In the Realm of the Sensuous: ‘Surrealism: Revolution by Night’ at the National Gallery of Australia”, The Age, Melbourne, Friday 19 March, 1993, 13.

35. Clabburn, Anna, “Subversive Giggles”, Storm, Melbourne, Victoria, April, 1994, 31.

36. Heathcote, Christopher, “Reality in the Tradition of a Nolan and Olsen”, The Age, Melbourne, Sunday 14 August, 1994, 19.

37. Elliott, Helen, “Dalí: The Full Picture”, Herald Sun, Melbourne, Victoria, Saturday 11 January, 1997, 31.

38. Dropulich, Silvia, “Australian Study on Dalí’s ‘remarkable force and scope’”, UniNews, Communications Unit, Parkville, The University of Melbourne, Monday 29 March, 1999, 3.

39. Dropulich, Silvia, “Quest for Fame illuminated the Genius of Dalí”, The University of Melbourne Annual Review 1999, Parkville, The University of Melbourne, 1999, 20-21.

40. Keaney, Gerald, “Surrealism as Revolutionary Art”, unpublished M.A. thesis, School of Philosophy, LaTrobe University, 1998, (archive copy also held at The Art Research Library, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra), 71, 75, 77-78, 84-85, 87, 93.