Brett Whiteley
(Australia, England 07 Apr 1939–15 Jun 1992)
- Title
- To Yirrawalla
- Other titles:
- Yirrawalla
- Year
- 1972
- Media categories
- Painting, Collage
- Materials used
- oil and mixed media on board
- Dimensions
-
185.3 x 166.3 x 6.3cm board
- Signature & date
- Signed and dated l.r. corner, black ink "... Brett Whiteley/ Aug-Sept/ 1972"
- Credit
- Purchased by the New South Wales State Government 1994, transferred to the Gallery 1998
- Accession number
- 352.1998
- Copyright
- © Wendy Whiteley
- Location
- Not on display
- Further information
'To Yirrawalla' was a tribute to the Aboriginal elder and spiritual leader of the Gunwinggu Tribe in Arnhemland. Whiteley felt a strong affinity with Yirawala upon meeting the man and viewing his bark paintings in Sydney in 1971. The minimal atmosphere of 'To Yirrawalla' conjures up a late winter scene in a paddock somewhere in the New South Wales central west. The desiccate landscape appears to barely sustain life, apart from tiny birds, insects and exotic blue vegetation. Surprisingly the stream running through the bottom portion of the the picture harbours a life-size platypus, a favourite hyrid creature of Whiteleys, perfectly adapted to its demanding environment. As well, the artist’s deft deployment of stones, a tree branch and collage all play a part in activating or heightening visual intrigue. The only hint of modernity is a bitumen roadway negotiating its way through the top left corner of the painting. The work was a precursor to such celebrated paintings as 'River at Marulan' 1976 and 'Summer at Carcoar' 1977.
Gavin Wilson in 'Rivers + Rocks: select works of Arthur Boyd & Brett Whiteley', 2001, page 14
- Bibliography (7)
-
Lou Klepac (Australia; Croatia, b.1936) (Author), Affinities: Brett Whiteley & Lloyd Rees, Domain, 2001, 8.
Gavin Wilson (Australia) (Author), Rivers + Rocks : select works of Arthur Boyd & Brett Whiteley, New South Wales, 2001, 13 (colour illus.), 14.
HQ Dec 2000, Dec 2000, 112 (colour illus.), 115 (colour illus., detail). illustration for a short story
Bruce James (Australia) (Author), Whiteley with words, Domain, 2000, 8.
Barry Pearce (Australia) (Author), Tangier to Byron Bay, Sydney, 1999, 4 (colour illus.). cat.no. 7
Barry Pearce (Australia) (Author), Brett Whiteley Art & Life, London, 1995, 216 (colour illus.), 235. plate no. 154
'Still life' by Janet Hawley, pg. 18-24., Good Weekend Magazine 02 Jul 1994, 02 Jul 1994, 22. titled 'Yirrawalla'
- Exhibition history (22)
-
Thirty-six looks at four sights on three themes: recent paintings, drawings and carvings, Bonython Art Gallery [Sydney], 24 Oct 1975–15 Nov 1975.
Rivers, Robin Gibson Gallery, 01 Mar 1977–19 Mar 1977.
Brett Whiteley 1958-1999: The Central West (1990), Orange Regional Gallery, 14 Apr 1990–13 May 1990.
Brett Whiteley Art & Life (1995-1996), Art Gallery of New South Wales, 16 Sep 1995–19 Nov 1995.
Brett Whiteley Art & Life (1995-1996), Museum and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory, 13 Dec 1995–28 Jan 1996.
Brett Whiteley Art & Life (1995-1996), Art Gallery of Western Australia, 22 Feb 1996–08 Apr 1996.
Brett Whiteley Art & Life (1995-1996), Art Gallery of South Australia, 09 May 1996–16 Jun 1996.
Brett Whiteley Art & Life (1995-1996), Art Gallery of New South Wales, 02 Jul 1996–26 Aug 1996.
Brett Whiteley Art & Life (1995-1996), Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, 18 Sep 1996–17 Nov 1996.
Tangier to Byron Bay: Brett Whiteley's travels 1960-1992 (1999), The Brett Whiteley Studio, 06 Feb 1999–29 Aug 1999.
Brett Whiteley - the genius (1999-2000), Moree Plains Gallery, 27 Nov 1999–28 Jan 2000.
Whiteley with words (2000), The Brett Whiteley Studio, 08 Apr 2000–16 Jul 2000.
Affinities: Brett Whiteley & Lloyd Rees (2001), The Brett Whiteley Studio, 10 Feb 2001–08 Jul 2001.
Rivers + Rocks: Select works of Arthur Boyd & Brett Whiteley (2001-2002), The Brett Whiteley Studio, 20 Oct 2001–27 Jan 2002.
Rivers + Rocks: Select works of Arthur Boyd & Brett Whiteley (2001-2002), Orange Regional Gallery, 08 Feb 2002–10 Mar 2002.
Rivers + Rocks: Select works of Arthur Boyd & Brett Whiteley (2001-2002), New England Regional Art Museum, 15 Mar 2002–21 Apr 2002.
Rivers + Rocks: Select works of Arthur Boyd & Brett Whiteley (2001-2002), Noosa Regional Gallery, 10 May 2002–09 Jun 2002.
Rivers + Rocks: Select works of Arthur Boyd & Brett Whiteley (2001-2002), Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, 21 Jun 2002–21 Jul 2002.
Rivers + Rocks: Select works of Arthur Boyd & Brett Whiteley (2001-2002), Lewers Bequest and Penrith Regional Art Gallery, 03 Aug 2002–08 Sep 2002.
Rivers + Rocks: Select works of Arthur Boyd & Brett Whiteley (2001-2002), Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, 25 Sep 2002–27 Oct 2002.
Rivers + Rocks: Select works of Arthur Boyd & Brett Whiteley (2001-2002), Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, 01 Nov 2002–01 Dec 2002.
Iconic Whiteley (2009-2010), The Brett Whiteley Studio, 12 Sep 2009–Aug 2010.
