An early artist, Brett Whiteley seeks an unconventional relationship with society. He watches like through distorting spectacles the naked body of Wendy, his wife and muse, in the bathroom. Outside, the city is both attractive and dangerous.
In 1969 the young couple wants to live in Fiji. Facing the ocean, the artist imagines the solutions tried by Gauguin in Tahiti. He looks at the birds : they are carefree. After a few months Brett and Wendy are expelled from Fiji for drug possession.
Brett knows success, including many exhibitions in Australia. He however viscerally remains a marginal. In 1988 he is appealed by the theme of Japan where he has never traveled. He now needs bright colors that only the ocean and the birds may deserve.
The Sunrise, Japanese, Good morning! is a synthesis of these themes. The sharpness of the bird is in contrast with the usual stylization by the artist. This oil and collage on board with electric light, 244 x 205 cm, was sold for A $ 1.32M including premium by Menzies on June 20, 2012. It is estimated A $ 1.4M for sale by the same auction house in Melbourne on September 21, lot 36.
A hummingbird accosting a frangipani, oil and tempera on canvas 211 x 400 cm painted in the same year, was sold for A $ 2,04M including premium by Sotheby's on August 28, 2006.
No more. In the following year, a television documentary is titled Difficult Pleasure, like an observation of his life marred by drug addiction. He divorces from Wendy, loses now all his fights against schizophrenia and alcohol and dies in 1992 of a heroin overdose in a hotel room.
SOLD for A$ 1.68M including premium
In 1969 the young couple wants to live in Fiji. Facing the ocean, the artist imagines the solutions tried by Gauguin in Tahiti. He looks at the birds : they are carefree. After a few months Brett and Wendy are expelled from Fiji for drug possession.
Brett knows success, including many exhibitions in Australia. He however viscerally remains a marginal. In 1988 he is appealed by the theme of Japan where he has never traveled. He now needs bright colors that only the ocean and the birds may deserve.
The Sunrise, Japanese, Good morning! is a synthesis of these themes. The sharpness of the bird is in contrast with the usual stylization by the artist. This oil and collage on board with electric light, 244 x 205 cm, was sold for A $ 1.32M including premium by Menzies on June 20, 2012. It is estimated A $ 1.4M for sale by the same auction house in Melbourne on September 21, lot 36.
A hummingbird accosting a frangipani, oil and tempera on canvas 211 x 400 cm painted in the same year, was sold for A $ 2,04M including premium by Sotheby's on August 28, 2006.
No more. In the following year, a television documentary is titled Difficult Pleasure, like an observation of his life marred by drug addiction. He divorces from Wendy, loses now all his fights against schizophrenia and alcohol and dies in 1992 of a heroin overdose in a hotel room.
SOLD for A$ 1.68M including premium
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