Brett Whitely: a brief frames analysis Essay

SubjectiveUsed art as a method of expressive self-exploration. I tonality in order to see.His artworks go from being political protests to being focussed on the not-so-quiet intimacies of his private life. Politics, travel, social consciousness, self-analysis, philosophical speculation and youth took second place to one over-riding obsession to paint pictures of beauty. (Brett Whiteley, by Sandra McGrath, 1979)Experimented with different, mind-altering drugs to influence his art-making.Greatly influenced by Francis Bacon.Towards the end of his career he moved to painting to a greater extent still lifes, the to a greater extent anti-social he became, the more inte relaxation methoded he was in inanimate, inhuman objects.His paintings ofttimes verged upon the sadly disturbing and deperate or outrageously humourous as his health declined + he became more demoralised. Where he once believed his paintings could change the world (eg. American Life), he tried to grapple with the contradi ctions in what he believed (ie. complete political restructure) + what he had become (a highly seek after + highly paid artist with a valuable house, swimming pool expensive car etc).His paintings were designed to provoke a very self-coloured emotional response from the viewer, either positive or negative.CulturalMany of his artworks included images of sex, violence, social themes.Interesting portrayal of Australian culture not forever positive, however, it is his paintings that depict Australia in a positive light Australia asa beach paradise etc that are most often glorified. These paintings, for example The Beach, were often misunderstood, as they were commenting on the materialistic/consumer nature of modern Australian societyWhiteley saw Australia as being in its political infancy, and believed that until Australia forged a more equal relationship with the rest of Asia, it would be doomed. He drove this point home through the use of Chinese calligraphy, slogans, provocati ve sculpture, poster art and often sensationalist press conferences.Cultural significance of life drawing in the art world.Was also influenced by his many overseas trips, notably India (Calcutta, Shankar + Fidgeting with Infinity) + England (The Christie series + the capital of the United Kingdom Zoo series).Many of his artworks depict a kind of East vs West theme.StructuralCombined many different mediums.Mostly did large-scale works something I want to experiment with.Used many different signs + symbols, sometimes overtly, sometimes not.Very interesting use of space often depicted bulging, distorted figures on large canvasses in the middle, or corner, surrounded by uninterrupted, negative space. (Many Eastern styles of art have a tendency to portray people as trivial details in the corner of a massive landscape.)Usually used a limited colour range, often worked in white + black or one other colour.Often skips narrative information + detail, more emphasis on forms, curves +swelli ngs that hint toward vague details.Much style dislocation didnt sound paint in one style, but many, often within the same painting.Post-ModernDespised the idea of tradition, suburbia, family values etc.Very iconoclastic.Liked to shock the rest of the art world, art critics etc.