Aesthetics, Applications, Artistry and Anarchy: Essays in Prehistoric and Contemporary Art

Scholar and artist John Clegg made a pioneering contributionto the study of rock art. He was the first in the Australian academy to teachrock art research as a dedicated subject (Sydney University 1965-2000),supervising the first graduate students with such specialty, subsequentlysupporting their careers. He is honoured here for much more than his noveltyand the contributions in this monograph pay homage to the late John Kay Clegg'sdiverse influence. Rock art researchers from around the globe traverses topicssuch as aesthetics, the application of statistical analyses, frontier conflictand layered symbolic meanings, the deliberate use of optical illusion, and thecontemporary significance of ancient and street art. They cover rock artassemblages from Columbia, South Africa, Europe and across Clegg's belovedAustralia. They interrogate descriptive and analytic concepts such asrepainting, memorialisation and graffiti, as well as questioning the ethicalimpactions of research practices touching rock art as a part of its study.The tributes in this book are necessarily as individual asthe man they honour, and John Clegg was certainly an individual. The longevityof ideas and perspectives Clegg brought to the pursuit of rock art research isdemonstrated in this collection of works. Clegg's continued relevance istestament to the value and magnitude of his contribution. He is a deservingsubject for a Festschrift.