YEAR 11 CASE STUDY- BRETT WHITELEY 1939 - 1992
Brett Whiteley is one of Australia's most renowned artists of the twentieth century. His work is showcased in the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, all Public State Galleries, most Regional Australian Galleries, the Tate Gallery of London and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Whiteley's work displays the influence from a wide range of sources, ranging from the work of Francis Bacon to Japanese ink drawings. It was Whiteley's distinctive style which placed him at the forefront of Australia's avant-garde art movement, and his work remains to be a huge inspiration for many emerging artists (H. Kwok. (2006). Brett Whiteley. Retrieved from: http://helenkwok.net/works/web/brett-whiteley/index.html).
What is meant by the term 'avant-garde'?
What is meant by the term 'avant-garde'?
FUN FACT:
Marcel Duchamp originally submitted his artwork Fountain for the exhibition of the Society of Independent Artists in 1917. The exhibition was designed for 'avant-garde' or forward looking artists. It was a prank, however, it was too much for the committee and they rejected it even though the rules stated that all artworks would be accepted from artists who paid the fee. |
A scholarly perspective
Edmund Capon, art director for the Art Gallery of New South Wales 1978- 2011 said the following things about Whiteley.
“..the person can never be separate from the art; the creator and the created are synonymous and, for Whiteley, art was as much an essential of life as life was an essential of art. It was a creed rich in opportunity for an artist devoted to the exploitation of the human figure, just as he was devoted to the exploration of the human opportunity in life…he was an indefatigable figurative artists who enriched his subjects- landscapes, Lavender Bay, birds, tress, animals- with an indelible human sensuality...” (Source unknown- previous school resource).
In your own words, explain what Capon is saying about Brett Whiteley as an artist.
“..the person can never be separate from the art; the creator and the created are synonymous and, for Whiteley, art was as much an essential of life as life was an essential of art. It was a creed rich in opportunity for an artist devoted to the exploitation of the human figure, just as he was devoted to the exploration of the human opportunity in life…he was an indefatigable figurative artists who enriched his subjects- landscapes, Lavender Bay, birds, tress, animals- with an indelible human sensuality...” (Source unknown- previous school resource).
In your own words, explain what Capon is saying about Brett Whiteley as an artist.
Wendy Whiteley
“Brett viewed contentment (satisfaction) as a dangerous state...he needed to put his hand in the fire”.
-Wendy Whiteley
(Source unknown- previous school resource)
Explain what Wendy Whiteley is saying about Whiteley and how this personality trait impacted upon his artmaking practice.
-Wendy Whiteley
(Source unknown- previous school resource)
Explain what Wendy Whiteley is saying about Whiteley and how this personality trait impacted upon his artmaking practice.
A Romanticist
"Art is a way of getting into and out of life... the way the two meet is what we call individuality. How the two meet is what we call style. When the two meet is what we call history" (Whiteley, as cited in MrGrath, 1992, p. 9).
In saying this, Whiteley placed himself squarely in the tradition of the Romantic artists: a tradition that glorifies fancy, indulges the emotions, relishes sensuality, speculates on sensibility, gambles on frailty, exalts extremism and elevates revelation.
(S. McGrath. (1992). Brett Whiteley. A Bay Books Publication: Pymble)
Drawing on what you have learnt about Romanticism, analyse how this art movement has influenced Whiteley's artmaking practice.
In saying this, Whiteley placed himself squarely in the tradition of the Romantic artists: a tradition that glorifies fancy, indulges the emotions, relishes sensuality, speculates on sensibility, gambles on frailty, exalts extremism and elevates revelation.
(S. McGrath. (1992). Brett Whiteley. A Bay Books Publication: Pymble)
Drawing on what you have learnt about Romanticism, analyse how this art movement has influenced Whiteley's artmaking practice.
Created by N. Usher for Gilroy Catholic College, 2014.