Tony McGillick

(Australia, England 22 Feb 1941–03 Nov 1992)

Title

Jasper's gesture

Year

1966

Media category

Painting

Materials used

synthetic polymer paint and wax on canvas, in four modular sections

Dimensions

170.1 x 162.5cm overall (irreg.)

Signature & date

Signed u.l. verso, blue ball-point pen ".../ Tony McGillick". Not dated.

Credit

D G Wilson Bequest Fund 2003

Accession number

257.2003

Copyright

Location

20th & 21st c Australian art

Further information

'Jasper's gesture' has an unusual and irregular polygon shape. Like other artists at this time, Tony McGillick was exploring the idea that the shape of a painting need not be confined to the 'neutral' convention of the square, rectangle, oval or circle, but could be a dynamic part of the composition.

McGillick also focused on colour and its interaction within the painting. The flat surfaces and synthetic colours contrast with the single white panel in painterly encaustic (pigment and wax). This work was painted in Sydney after McGillick returned from London via America in the early 1960s where he had seen the work of American colour-field painters. The title however is a tribute to American artist Jasper Johns, whose influence helped to formulate McGillick’s ideas and who often used encaustic.

Bibliography (11)

'Tackling The Field' by Natalie Wilson, pg. 1-29., Tackling THE FIELD 2009, 2009, 9 (colour illus.), 25. NOTE: This work was hung in an adjoining room for the duration of the 'Tackling THE FIELD' collection focus display.

Lynne Seear (Australia) (Editor), Julie Ewington (Australia) (Editor), Brought to light II: Australian art 1966-2006, South Brisbane, 2007, 40 (colour illus.).

Anthony Bond (England; Australia) (Commissioning Editor), Wayne Tunnicliffe (New Zealand; Australia) (Commissioning Editor), Contemporary: Art Gallery of New South Wales Contemporary Collection, 2006, 44, 45 (colour illus.).

'Thanks to a generous benefactor' by Michael Wardell, pg. 14-15., Look Oct 2003, Oct 2003, 14 (colour illus.).

Elin Howe (Australia) (Author), Rhonda Davis (Australia) (Curator), Central Street live, Sydney, 2002, 43. Private collection

Paul McGillick (Author), Central Street: an exhibition of selected paintings shown at the Central Street Gallery in Sydney between 1966 and 1969, Richmond, 1990, (colour illus.). cat.no. 10; collection: the artist

Paul McGillick (Author), Survey 6: Tony McGillick, Melbourne, 1978, (illus.). cat.no. 9; collection: the artist

Survey 6: Tony McGillick 1978, 1978. Produced to accompany the exhibition of the same name shown at the NGV in 1978.

'Aspden, McGillick and Mirka Mora' by George Berger., Sydney Jewish news 14 Jun 1968, 14 Jun 1968. Review of 1968 Central Street Gallery exhibition. A work titled 'Jasper's Garden' is mentioned, as is most likely the painting 'Jasper's Gesture', as no painting of that name is listed in the catalogue.

'Noel Hutchison tracks around the Galleries', by Noel Hutchison., Honi soit Jun 1968, Jun 1968. Review of Central Street Gallery exhibition, June 1968.

'Small and temporary: but it's a big pointer to the future' by Jill Sykes, pg. 28-29., Look Sep 2011, Sep 2011, 28 (colour illus.).

Exhibition history (7)

Tony McGillick (1968), Central Street Gallery, 05 Jun 1968–29 Jun 1968.

Tony McGillick, Pinacotheca Gallery, Oct 1968 -.

Survey 6: Tony McGillick, National Gallery of Victoria [St Kilda Road], 21 Oct 1978–26 Nov 1978.

Central Street: an exhibition of selected paintings shown at the Central Street Gallery in Sydney between 1966 and 1969, Charles Nodrum Gallery, 23 Oct 1990–14 Nov 1990.

The sense of making: Tony McGillick, selected works from the 60's 70's and 90's, Annandale Studio, 23 Nov 2000–16 Dec 2000.

Central Street Live, Lewers Bequest and Penrith Regional Art Gallery, 16 Nov 2002–23 Feb 2003.

Central Street Live, Macquarie University Art Gallery, 07 Mar 2003–05 May 2003.