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Tony Rafty: Caricaturist and Australian
National Treasure
by Greg Tingle
Tony
Rafty is getting prepared to make the trip to his
parents’ birthplace, Greece, to pay homage to
his remaining relatives from both sides of this family,
while covering the 2004 Olympic Games, to be held
in Athens.
This
great Australia, Tony Rafty was born in Paddington,
Sydney on the 12th October, 1915, and now resides
at Little Bay in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Tony
got his start drawing caricatures while he caddied
in his native Australia as a teenager, trying to help
his family through the Depression.
He
can rightfully boast that he is the only artist in
the world to have recorded the Olympians and sketches
of the Olympic Games from 1948 (London) to 1996 (Atlanta).
What
is even more noteworthy is the fact that 95% of his
drawings also have their subject’s autographs,
making his collection unique and invaluable.
Tony
specialises in caricatures of media types, entertainers,
politicians, golfers, boxers, and cricketers, and
has been described by industry experts and practitioners
as “without peer”, in terms of the number
of drawings and caricatures autographed, ever assembled
in one artist’s lifetime.
Just
a few of the notable politicians Tony has drawn in
caricature include William McMahon, Gough Whitlam,
Graham Richardson, Michael Photios and Tom Uren. Tony
has also met and drawn many international political
figures including U.S Presidents, Harold McMillan
and Mrs Indira Ghandi.
"The
Great Entertainers" is another work of art with
the most famous piece being the signed caricature
of The Beatles when they visited Australia in 1964.
John, Paul, George and Ringo all signed the drawing
and it is said to be the only one of its kind in the
world. The rest of the collection includes over
150 signed drawings of such luminaries as Louis Armstrong,
Sammy Davis Jnr., Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Nat King
Cole, Betty Davis, Alfred Hitchcock, Tony Bennett,
Danny Kaye, Paul Robeson and even Mr. Lips himself,
Mick Jagger from the Rolling Stones.
Not
surprisingly, Tony’s work has been showcased
at art exhibitions around Australia, and he in currently
in negations with Museums and art houses in Los Angeles.
One
of the most prestigious exhibitions of Tony’s
work, was at the Greek Ambassador’s residence
in Canberra, which commemorated the anniversary of
the Battle of Crete.
Tony
Rafty has proved his talents over several decades
and has been employed by highly reputed newspapers
in the mainstream press.
Over
the years more than 15.000 of his drawings have graced
the pages of newspapers and magazines, as well as
the walls of exhibition centres around the globe.
During
World War II Tony proved to be a most talented war
artist, and journalist, while serving in the Australian
Army in New Guinea, Borneo and Singapore, and a few
years later he covered the Indonesian War of Independence.
His considerably works from that era are housed in
the National Library and the Australian War Museum
in Canberra.
Tony
sketched the surrender of the Japanese in Singapore
and the War Museum in Canberra has over 200 of his
works during this time. He covered the release of
the POWs from prison camps and completed many sketches
of war action including a memorable one of Lord Mountbatten.
He also experienced the Indonesian War of Independence
and befriended President Suekarno of Indonesia.
“The
Olympians” exhibitions at the Myers Emporium
in Melbourne, (opened by Sir William Dargie) in 1959,
three years after the Victorian capital staged the
Olympic Games; at the Canberra National Press Club,
(opened by Sir Robert Menzies) in 1965; the Adelaide
Festival in 1966; Vathy (capital of Ithaca) in 1972;
Manila Peninsula Hotel, Philippines (opened by Ambassador
Richard Wollcott) in 1981.
In
1984 Tony Rafty has one exhibition at Squire House
in Hong Kong while that same year examples of his
court reportage were displayed at the Blaxland Galleries,
in Sydney (and opened by Judge Cross); in 1987 his
works were on show at the Sydney Town Hall as part
of the City of Sydney Festival; in 1989 he exhibited
at the David Jones store in Canberra and in 1993 his
“Olympians in Caricature” exhibition was
mounted at the Sydney Town Hall.
It
must be noted that in 1981 Tony became the world’s
first caricaturist to have subjects appear on national
stamps for Australian Post. To jog your memories,
gracing that series of stamps were the caricatures
of cricketer Victor Trumper, billiards champion Walter
Lindrum, tennis star Sir Norman Brooks and jockey
Darby Munroe. Tony also undertook the first
day cover designs of the same for Fleetway in the
United States.
Not
content with stamps, Tony forged another milestone
by being the first artist commissioned to provide
courtroom drawings for the Channel Seven News. His
sketches were televised across the country and he
still has a small collection of famous cases.
The
cartoonist-caricaturist is also proud of the fact
that he is one of the founding members of the Black
and White Artists Club (having served as President);
for 23 years he was on the Board of Directors of the
Sydney Journalists Club (holding the position of President)
and served the Australian War Correspondents’
Association. Tony still leads the Anzac Day
march at the head of the Australian War Correspondents
Society.
Sir
William Dargie, one of Australia’s great artists,
winner of a number of Archibald Prizes and war artist
with Rafty in WW11 says, “Tony Rafty is simply
splendid. He not only brings an intellectual quality
to his work, but he does it so well within a social
context that he creates subjects which have a life
of their own.”
In
1985 Tony was awarded the Gold Cross of Mount Athos,
one of Greece’s highest honours, and in 1991
Tony was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for
services to the media. Tony acknowledged that
he dedicated the Gold Cross to his parents.
Speaking
to Media Man Australia, Tony explained his approach
to his work, “I try to notice clothes, shoes,
the way people stand,” he said. “If
you look at my drawings, I hope to capture the spirit.
A caricature is meant to be exaggerated to a
certain extent, but if it’s too much, you lose
the likeness. It all has to do with seeing the person.”
Tony’s
artistic style flows from life itself, with quick
first impressions committed to paper in bold outlines
and later filled in with detail. “I like
to capture a personality when they are talking and
moving about. A person’s face doesn’t come
alive until they are mobile, talking or laughing.
I like to do two or three drawings at different angles
then leave it until later when I can get a photograph
to remember the small details that I may have forgotten”.
While
his works could sell for millions around the world,
what are they worth to Tony Rafty?
“Just
to be near them and talk to them in the mornings is
great”, he says. “I remember little
conversations I had with them (the subjects), and
that is what’s so special to me”.
Tony
Rafty is a true national treasure at 88 years of age
and his caricatures trace a course in history. They
will leave a visual image of the famous, and not so
famous, people who came and went over his lifetime.
This
extraordinary man’s ambition to go to Greece
next year will surely be realised, as a man of such
talent and passion wouldn’t have it any other
way.
Links:
Interview:
Tony Rafty
Media
Man Australia: Cartoons and Caricatures
Profiles
The
Golf Directory - Media Man Australia
Tony
Rafty
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