Herbert Flugelman
Doctor of Creative Arts (honoris causa)
Citation delivered by Professor Gerard Sutton, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wollongong on the occasion of the admission of Herbert Flugelman to the degree of Doctor of Creative Arts (honoris causa) on 10 May 1995.
Chancellor, I present to you Herbert Flugelman.
Herbert Flugelman was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1923 and emigrated to Australia in 1938. He graduated from the National Art School at East Sydney Technical College in 1950 and taught at Gymea, Kogarah and East Sydney Technical Colleges between 1961 and 1972. After tutoring the Fine Arts Workshop and Studio at the University of Sydney, Dr Flugelman spent ten years in Adelaide as a lecturer at the South Australian School of Art and as Head of Sculpture at the Adelaide College of Fine Arts and Education.
He commenced as a Senior Lecturer with the University of Wollongong’s School of Creative Arts in 1984 and his personal generosity and outstanding teaching ability greatly benefited students at all levels. When the doctoral degree in Creative Arts was first established, Herbert Flugelman was one of the few staff members with the appropriate levels of knowledge and experience to supervise doctoral students. With his customary enthusiasm and commitment, Herbert Flugelman guided several doctoral candidates who have gone onto enjoy successful careers in the arts. In 1991 Herbert Flugelman was made a Professorial Fellow of the University of Wollongong in recognition of his outstanding contribution.
Herbert Flugelman has exhibited work at several international galleries including the Piccadilly in London and the Barone in New York and at galleries in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth. His prints, paintings and sculpture are permanent features of many collections including the Launceston Art Gallery, the Adelaide Festival Centre and private collections throughout Europe the USA, Canada and Australia. He has won many awards for his work, among them prizes for painting and sculpture at the Royal Easter Show.
Evidence of the cultural relevance and popularity of Herbert Flugelman’s unique artwork can be found in the number of commissions he has completed. The distinctive qualities of his public sculptures, such as the welded copper and mosaic fountain at the Australian National University, Canberra, and the stainless steel spheres in the Rundle Mall, Adelaide have added significantly to the artistic landscape of this country and rightfully secured Bert Flugelman’s place as a major Australian artist. His acclaimed stainless steel “Wave” sculpture has become a distinctive symbol of this University.
Herbert Flugelman established standards of excellence through his contribution to the academic and artistic life of this University. His ability to discuss the artistic process in a personal and evocative way coupled with his outstanding technical skill proved invaluable to his students and impressed colleagues who had the privilege to work with him. His work has influenced generations of artists and provided much pleasure for lovers of fine, innovative arts.
Herbert Flugelman is being honoured today not only as a great artist and a committed academic but for his ability, generosity and passion as a teacher. For such a naturally talented person to be so generous and genuinely interested in the progress of others, is rare indeed.
Chancellor, it a pleasure to present to you Herbert Flugelman for the award of Doctor of Creative Arts, honoris causa.