Terra Australis: In conversation with LF Bollée, Philippe Nicloux, Dr Sandy O’Sullivan

Join us for this special event presented by the Embassy of France in Australia, the Alliance Française of Sydney, Sydney Accueil and the State Library of NSW. LF Bollée and Philippe Nicloux will discuss their acclaimed graphic novel Terra Australis. They will be joined by Dr. Sandy O’Sullivan, Senior Indigenous researcher and ABC broadcaster Kate Evans who will lead the discussion.

Based on the real-life voyage of discovery of Admiral Arthur Phillip, who became the first Governor of New South Wales and founder of Sydney, Terra Australis is a dramatic historical account tracing the First Fleet’s epic nine-month journey, from its departure from London in 1787 to the early attempts at establishing a new settlement. Terra Australis explores the French and British journeys to Australia in the late 18th century and the experiences of first contact between Europeans and the Indigenous peoples.

Written by Laurent-Frédéric Bollée, illustrated by Philippe Nicloux, both respected authors of the successful French comic books scene, and published to coincide with Admiral Phillip’s bicentenary, this is a 500-page cinematic-scale epic that moves from the festering squalour of Newgate prison to the claustrophobic confines of the ships and the natural beauty of Botany Bay. The narrative and illustrations flow with expressionistic drama, highlighting the social climate of the late 18th century, and depicting the characters and landscapes in equal detail.

The panel will address questions around historical representation of Indigenous culture in modern literature.
Terra Australis will be for sale during this event and can also be pre-ordered in French or in English on www.leforum.com.au.

Laurent-Frédéric Bollée

LF Bollée is a descendant of the famous engineers Amédée and Léon Bollée, pioneers of the modern automobile. After studying law, economics and journalism, he worked for public TV channel France 2 for a decade before specialising in sport. Passionate about motor racing, he is currently chief editor of Motors TV, a specialist European TV channel, and for the last 15 years has been the lead commentator of major Australian series such as the V8 Supercars, the V8 Utes, the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia and the Australian Drag Racing Series.

LF Bollée lives in Versailles, a few hundred metres away from the world-famous Château. He is married and the father of two children.

Philippe Nicloux

Philippe Nicloux is an illustrator born in 1972. He is married with two children and lives in Nice. Working alongside MK Deville, who wrote the words, he drew three graphic novels for the Enfants Rouges publishing house: Rashomon (2008), Otomi (2009) and Tropique de l'agneau (2010) before embarking on a collaboration with LF Bollée for the long-form adventure Terra Australis, published in 2013 by Glénat.

Dr Sandy O’Sullivan

Sandy O’Sullivan is an Aboriginal (Wiradjuri) senior researcher and has worked as an academic for 21 years. She is a current ARC Senior Indigenous Researcher, an enduring ALTC Teaching Fellow, and holds a PhD in Fine Art and Performance, where she examined conflations of gender, sexuality and Indigeneity.

Kate Evans

Kate Evans has worked in radio, TV, book publishing and universities. She joined RN in 1997, and has spent time both behind the scenes and in front of the microphone, on a range of programs including Rear Vision, Hindsight, Life Matters, The Comfort Zone, The Book Show, Australia Talks and MovieTime. During that time, she also completed a PhD in history, and worked on various TV and radio special projects. As someone whose greatest pleasure is reading books and speaking to interesting people, she’s delighted to be presenting Books +.

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