The Olive

Impressions of Greece

The fourth installation as part of our Impressions of Greece exhibition series.

Overview

‘The Olive’ brings together ancient Greek artefacts with the landscapes and culture of modern Greece captured in the photographs of William J Woodhouse between 1890 and 1920. 

This installation focuses on the olive as a significant plant in Greece from ancient to modern times. For thousands of years, the olive has been a common sight in the Greek landscape and its fruit, wood, oil, and leaves harvested for a wide range of everyday uses – from food to fuel, bathing, to medicine and beauty.

'Impressions of Greece: The Olive' (installation view), 2024, Chau Chak Wing Museum.

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A person stands in the 'Impressions of Greece' exhibition at Chau Chak Wing Museum Link

Guest curated by Meaghan Zarb, University of New England.

Meaghan's internship, Aug 2023, at the Chau Chak Wing Museum supported by the Museums and Galleries NSW, volunteer placement program.

Designer
Studioplusthree

Exhibition Manager
Luke Parker

Details

When

Open seven days a week
Mon - Fri: 10am - 5pm
Sat - Sun: 12 - 4pm

Ongoing exhibition

Location

Level 2, Nicholson Galleries
Chau Chak Wing Museum

Cost

Free

Photos included in the exhibition

Old Olive on road from Argostiti to H. Georgios, Κεφαλονιά, Έλλάδα (Kefalonia, Greece), 1890–1922, photograph from a glass-plate, negative by William J Woodhouse, donated by Liska Woodhouse, 1984, Nicholson Collection, NM2007.109.6

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Black and white image of a large and very old olive tree in the Greek countryside. Link

A photograph taken by Woodhouse captures a large and very old olive tree in the Greek countryside. A woman stands beside the trunk, showing the size of this tree. Olive trees are hardy and adaptable, often living for hundreds of years. If damaged, the tree is known to reshoot and grow again. Olive trees can survive for hundreds if not thousands of years - Is this restful old olive tree still around today?  And, could this be it?

The sap from the olives was a key source of fuel in antiquity. Ceramic lamps were filled with olive oil, and a simple wick would burn from the nozzle.

 

[Village produce stall], Έλλάδα (Greece), 1890–1922, photograph from a glass-plate, negative by William J Woodhouse, donated by Liska Woodhouse, 1984, Nicholson Collection, NM2007.18.14

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A black and white image of a fresh produce stall in Greece Link

Olives and their oil have always been a central facet of the Greek diet. Woodhouse’s photograph shows an unknown village’s produce stall, in front sits a ceramic serving plate from the Late Geometric Period, approximately 2,800 years ago. 

 

[View of the north-western side of the Erechtheion where Athena’s olive tree was said to have grown], Αθήνα, Έλλάδα (Athens, Greece), 1890–1922, photograph from a glass-plate, negative by William J Woodhouse, donated by Liska Woodhouse, 1984, Nicholson Collection, NM2007.85.12

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A black and white photo of a temple to Athena Polias Link

The olive tree was considered sacred in ancient Greece, particularly in Athens as it was associated with Athena, the goddess of wisdom and military strategy. It is told she gave the olive tree to the Athenians, planted on the Acropolis to become surrounded by her temple, the Erectheion. Woodhouse’s photo of this temple to Athena Polias (Athena of the City) is paired with a red-figure pelike (jar for liquids) that is decorated with Athena’s sacred owl framed by two olive branches. 

 

The full archive of historic photographs by William Woodhouse are available online, and are part of an ongoing community project adding new information and data to the collection.

Header image: Impressions of Greece: The Olive (installation view), Chau Chak Wing Museum, 2024.

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Phone: +61 2 93512812

Email: ccwm.info@sydney.edu.au

Chau Chak Wing Museum
University Place
Camperdown NSW 2050

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