The Mid-Century Modernist’s Library: From Page to Painting

With much of my work focusing on past events, reference books are a must. I'm lucky that here in Australia we have a fabulous, free public library system as well as great independent bookstores. Some survived the digital era and some emerged from it.

I began this list intending to summarise why I love these books and why I continue to borrow them. However, the reasons are consistent:

• Incredible photography

• Stories about objects and the people who designed them

• Insights into culture and family life

• How society changed more rapidly than ever

• The technologies and inventions that made it possible

• Great colour palette ideas

• Shopping lists for Op Shopping opportunities

• How to incorporate mid-century design into a 21st-century lifestyle

My stories emerge from reading these books (yes, I do read them, not just look at the pretty pictures). Sometimes that reading sends me down an online rabbit hole, and sometimes a phrase, reaction, or recollection from me ends up as a title for a painting. If you've been wondering where those titles come from, now you know.

Also deserving an honourable mention for reviving interest in the mid-century modern movement is Tim Ross - Australian comedian and unofficial ambassador for our architectural heritage.

If you haven't experienced his live talks in some of Australia's most significant homes, you have missed a golden opportunity. My husband and I went to one of his first shows in 2016 at the iconic Torbreck apartments in Hill End. It sparked my initial interest in mid-century design and inspired me to vow to live a simpler life, stripped of the excesses of the "McMansion" lifestyle.

To see more, search for Tim Ross’s two shows on the ABC:

Designing a Legacy (2021)
Streets of Your Town (2016)

I’d love to hear from you. Does this spark a specific memory, or perhaps a resource I’ve missed? If you’ve seen Tim’s shows, I want to know. What’s your strongest memory of the experience (and does the song 'Mission Brown' still live rent-free in your head)?