Bert Flugelman

Herbert Flugelman (28 January 1923 – 26 February 2013), usually known as Bert, was a prominent Australian visual artist, primarily a sculptor, who had many of his works publicly displayed. He is known for his stainless steel geometric public sculptures. Among his best-known works are The Spheres (nicknamed the Mall's Balls) in Adelaide, Pyramid Tower in Sydney and Cones in the sculpture garden of the National Gallery of Australia.

Early life and education Herbert Flugelman was born in Vienna, Austria, on 28 January 1923, the son of Leopold and Irma Flugelman (née Feldman). As the Nazis came to power in the 1930s, Leopold was the first to come to Australia, in his official capacity as an agent for the German fabric company he worked for. He then arranged visas for his second wife, Annie, and Herbert to come as well. After queuing for three days for a train leaving Vienna, Herbert was initially turned away for not having the right papers. His uncle intervened, telling the guards that they were supposed to be getting rid of Jews, and Herbert was allowed to board. He met Annie in Genoa, Italy, where in 1938 they boarded a boat to Fremantle, Western Australia, before travelling to Sydney. Leopold got a job as a hotel doorman, later becoming manager. Herbert's mother Irma also escaped to Australia, initially to London and then moving to the United States after the war, where she remarried.

Flugelman first worked as a jackaroo. (although, being a foreign national, he was not allowed to fight In 1952, he contracted polio in Vienna, spending some time being treated in a London hospital. The disease left him with severe disabilities in one arm and one leg. During this period, he also lectured at the City Art Institute in Sydney

Art practice After starting his career with painting, Flugelman turned to sculpture in the late 1950s after fire destroyed his studio. He began creating semi-figurative expressionist sculptures, then from the late 1960s he helped to lead a new wave of practices, with range of forms that included object-based sculptures as well as installations along with works of conceptual and performance art. (who had moved from Sydney at Brook's suggestion), Ian North, Clifford Frith, and Phil Noyce. According to Brook, the EAF was "an engine for shaping beliefs about the meaning of works of art and the point of making them". 2006: Member of the Order of Australia Pyramid Tower was a commissioned work, created as a memorial to William Dobell.

Death and legacy Flugelman died on 26 February 2013 at his home in Bowral, on the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. His memorial service was held at Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park in Sydney.

Flugelman's archives are held in the Art Gallery of NSW's National Art Archive

Collections Flugelman's work is held in collections around Australia, including: Art Gallery of South Australia Art Gallery of New South Wales National Portrait Gallery, Canberra

Selected works The following is a partial list of the Flugelman's completed works.

Bert Flugelman 1975, Earthwork, buried aluminium sculpture, Commonwealth Park, Canberra 1976 Sculpture No. 2 (Vertical Variation), stainless steel sculpture Adelaide Festival Centre 100px Bert Flugelman 1976, Sculpture No. 2, stainless steel sculpture, Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide 1977 The Spheres, stainless steel sculpture (popularly known as the Mall's Balls, and sometimes Bert's Balls ) Rundle Mall, Adelaide 100px

Bert Flugelman 2005, Tetrapus, stainless steel, University of Wollongong Innovation Campus, North Wollongong, New South Wales 2006 Slow Spiral, stainless steel sculpture, installed 2007 Queens Plaza, Brisbane 2007 Conversation, stainless steel sculpture Pt. Leo Sculpture Park, Point Leo, Victoria 100px Opposing Arches (The Arches) (2007), stainless steel sculpture, Macquarie University, Sydney 2009 Serpent II, stainless steel sculpture Pt. Leo Sculpture Park, Point Leo, Victoria