Henk Guth

Henk Gerrit Guth (Arnhem, c. 1921 – 20 July 2003) was a Dutch artist who had a career in Australia, remembered for "Panorama Guth" (1975–2005), a cyclorama in Alice Springs, Northern Territory.

History Guth was born in Arnhem, Netherlands, and studied at the Arnhem Academy of Art and Design from 1938 to 1942, then moved to Amsterdam to work as an artist. Guth became part of the Resistance during World War II and he used his skills as a draughtsman to remove the yellow stars from the identity papers of Dutch Jews. Guth was captured by the Gestapo and jailed for six months before being sent to a concentration camp in the north; most likely Westerbork transit camp. Guth escaped from the camp six months later and rejoined the Resistance. Guth was often unwilling to discuss this part of his life; including during lengthy oral history interviews that are available through the Northern Territory Archives Service.

In 1960, searching for broader horizons, Guth migrated to Australia and initially settled in Melbourne. For the next several years he worked as a house painter and teacher for students with disabilities while making travels throughout Victoria and holding exhibitions of his Dutch landscape work. On the verge of returning to Europe Guth travelled to Alice Springs where he fell in love with the surroundings and was particularly enchanted by Ormiston Gorge in the West MacDonnell Ranges. This building, with its unusual castle-like appearance, became one of Alice Spring' most popular landmarks. The gorge had been one of Guth's favourite places to paint and, in order to be buried there, the Northern Territory Government granted special permission.

On 30 October 2005 'Panorama Guth' was destroyed by fire for which the cause could not be found. Some other exhibits, (including paintings by Albert Namatjira and his family) and irreplaceable aboriginal artefacts, were saved.