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An image of Mullet Creek by Ana Pollak

Ana Pollak

(Australia 1958– )

Title
Mullet Creek
Place of origin
Dangar Island → New South Wales → Australia
Year
2007
Media category
Drawing
Materials used
graphite on rice paper
Dimensions

100.0 x 240.0cm sheet

Signature & date
Not signed. Not dated.
Credit
Gift of the Trustees of the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation 2007
Accession number
319.2007
Copyright
© Ana Pollak
Location
Not on display
Further information

'Drawing has always been number one. And line. And in the last three years, the exploration of line has been inspired by Chinese calligraphy … but the best I can do is try to capture the essence of it, and play with that essence of movement, because it is all about movement and line and bringing the two together.' (Ana Pollak to Jill Sykes, Look, July 2008, p 23).

Pollak created this large drawing in her studio on Dangar Island in August 2007. It was worked up from several small preparatory studies made from her dory (rowing boat), in situ up Mullet Creek, which is adjacent to her home. She was
inspired by ‘the gentle way the skeletal framework of the oyster leases at low tide delineate the vast estuarine spaces of the Hawkesbury River’, and by the pattern of dark stakes and their reflection against shimmering water. With a minimum of abbreviated marks, her drawing evokes the broken-up reflections created by the movement of water. Its pacing is sensitive, with drawn marks counterpointed by areas of unmarked white paper. Pollak attributes this delicacy of approach to the influence of music, and what it has taught her about the importance of pauses and silence. 'Mullet Creek' evokes the atmospheric stillness and calm of a landscape that Pollak cherishes, but which is undergoing change. The old oyster farm beds are being progressively removed and replaced with plastic equivalents and new strains of oysters, to counter the pervasive QX virus.

This drawing was the first work by Pollak to enter the Gallery’s collection, and was joined the following year by a small study in graphite, 'Study for Mullet Creek' 2007, gifted to the AGNSW by the artist. In 2012 a hand-drawn film 'Flux',
featuring her drawings of Hawkesbury River water, was purchased by the Gallery.

Bibliography (16)

Hendrik Kolenberg (Netherlands; Australia) (Author), Anne Ryan (Australia) (Author), Helen Campbell (Australia) (Author), Contemporary Australian Drawing: 20 years of the Dobell Prize for Drawing, Sydney, 2012, 9, 48, 49 (illus.), 61.

'A fine harvest of drawings: legacy of an exceptional draughtsman' by Hendrik Kolenberg, pg. 28-31., Look Nov 2011, Nov 2011, 30, 31 (illus.).

'Dobell Prize for Drawing', the (sydney) magazine Sep 2008, Sep 2008, uknown (illus.). Review of Dobell Prize for Drawing 2008

'How last year's Dobell was spent...' by Jill Sykes, pg. 19-23., Look Jul 2008, Jul 2008, 19 (colour illus.).

Look Nov 2007, Nov 2007, 43 (illus.).

‘Pencil it in’ by Sebastian Smee, pg. 18., The Weekend Australian 08 Sep 2007-09 Sep 2007, 08 Sep 2007-09 Sep 2007, 18 (illus.).

'High stakes, but Dobell winner rows to the occasion’ by Elizabeth Fortescue, pg. 95., Herald Sun 27 Aug 2007, 27 Aug 2007, 95 (colour illus.).

‘Up the creek without a palette: sketch takes prize' by Louise Schwartzkoff, pg. 3; ‘Insistent work a brave choice’ by John McDonald, pg. 3., The Sydney Morning Herald 24 Aug 2007, 24 Aug 2007, 3 (illus.).

'Oyster stakes her claim to art prize’ by Elizabeth Fortescue, pg. 15., The Daily Telegraph 24 Aug 2007, 24 Aug 2007, 15 (illus.). Pollak pictured standing in front of work.

‘Walking on air: water-bound artist wins Dobell Prize’ by Louise Schwartzkoff, pg. 6., The Age 24 Aug 2007, 24 Aug 2007, 6 (illus.).

‘Water-bound artist wins Dobell Prize’ by Louise Schwartzkoff., The Age 24 Aug 2007, 24 Aug 2007, (colour illus.). viewed 24.08.2007, <http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/08/23/1187462438794.html>

‘Oysters the pearl of Dobell prize’ by Rosalie Higson, pg. 7; ‘Perfect example of where to draw the line’ by Sebastian Smee, pg. 7., The Australian 24 Aug 2007, 24 Aug 2007, 7 (illus.).

‘Fame for Mullet Creek’, pg. 5., The Canberra Times 24 Aug 2007, 24 Aug 2007, 5 (illus.).

‘Mullet Creek takes out Dobell Prize’, pg. 19., Wagga Wagga Daily Advertiser 24 Aug 2007, 24 Aug 2007, 19 (illus.). Pollak pictured standing in front of work.

'Minimalist drawing wins $20,000 Dobell prize'., The Sydney Morning Herald 23 Aug 2007, 23 Aug 2007, (illus.). viewed 23.08.2007, <http://www.smh.com.au/news/arts/minimalist-drawing-wins-20000-dobell-prize/2007/08/23/1187462419805.html>

'Subtle landscape wins Dobell Prize'., www.abc.net.au 23 Aug 2007, 23 Aug 2007, (illus.). viewed 23.08.2012, <http://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-08-23/subtle-landscape-wins-dobell-prize/648572>

Exhibition history (2)

Dobell Prize for Drawing 2007, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 24 Aug 2007–04 Nov 2007.

Contemporary Australian Drawing: 20 Years of the Dobell Drawing Prize, Grafton Regional Gallery, 15 Feb 2013–24 Mar 2013.