We acknowledge the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the Country on which the Art Gallery of NSW stands.

Title

No conclusions drawn – self portrait

(2008)

Artist

Ginny Grayson

Australia, New Zealand

27 May 1967 –

  • Details

    Place where the work was made
    Melbourne → Victoria → Australia
    Date
    (2008)
    Media category
    Drawing
    Materials used
    charcoal, pencil, watercolour, gesso, collaged paper corrections on Lana paper; ink jet photographic prints
    Dimensions
    diptych: 110.0 x 141.4 x 4.1 cm overall; 110.0 x 132.5 x 4.0 cm frame, 110.0 x 16.0 x 4.0 cm frame :

    a - Panel 1, 105 x 127.5 cm, Sheet dimensions

    a - Panel 1, 110 x 132.5 x 4.1 cm, Frame dimensions

    b - Panel 2, 105 x 10 cm, Sheet dimensions

    b - Panel 2, 110 x 6.4 x 4.1 cm, Frame dimensions

    NOTE: Artist recommends a gap of 7-8cm between Panel 1 and Panel 2. The overall dimensions have included a gap of 7.5cm.

    Signature & date

    Signed l.r. corner, pencil "V.Grayson". Not dated.

    Credit
    Gift of the Trustees of the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation 2008
    Location
    Not on display
    Accession number
    383.2008.a-b
    Copyright
    © Ginny Grayson

    Reproduction requests

    Dobell Prize for Drawing
    Winner - 2008
    Artist information
    Ginny Grayson

    Works in the collection

    1

    Share

  • About

    Inspired by her large new studio, Ginny Grayson began this work as a study of the urban landscape outside her window, at over twice the scale. Following a difficult family visit to New Zealand, she transformed the image. The drawing
    now became a more personal investigation of identity and acceptance, and she reduced the landscape outside the studio, beyond recognition. Although 'No conclusions drawn – self portrait' is ostensibly an observational drawing, it is not the subject itself that is of greatest interest to Grayson, but the complexities of structural form and the perceptual ambiguities that she experiences.

    Preferring to work at a very abstract level – from the inner axis outwards – the artist explains that she slowly feels her way through the forms, comparing her approach to a surgical process. She says this reflects the difficulty of pinning down reality or identity, and states that she often finds the ghostly residue or erasure preferable to the actual drawing. Grayson’s method involves numerous corrections using eraser and gesso, and by adding paper to areas worn thin by overworking. The worn and fragile surface of No conclusions drawn – self portrait attests to the difficulties generated by her investigative process. The right panel of the diptych contains photographs showing earlier stages, lost as an inevitable part of her method, while date stamps on the drawing are intended as an ironic comment on the absurdity of trying to draw what one perceives.

    This work won the Dobell Prize for Drawing in 2008 and was acquired by the Gallery in 2008.

  • Places

    Where the work was made

    Melbourne

  • Exhibition history

    Shown in 2 exhibitions

  • Bibliography

    Referenced in 17 publications

    • Christopher Allen, The Weekend Australian, 'Walk the line', pg. 18-19, Canberra, 20 Sep 2008-21 Sep 2008, 18 (colour illus.). Review of Dobell Prize for Drawing. Virginia Grayson is pictured standing beside the work.

    • Kim Christian, The Canberra Times, 'Dobell Prize quest draws to successful conclusion', pg. 9, Ainslie, 05 Sep 2008, 9 (illus.). Review of Dobell Prize for Drawing. Virginia Grayson is pictured standing beside the work.

    • Elizabeth Fortescue, Daily Telegraph, 'Drawn to self doubt', pg. 25, Sydney, 05 Sep 2008, 25 (colour illus.). Review of Dobell Prize for Drawing. Virginia Grayson is pictured standing beside the work.

    • Elizabeth Fortescue, Daily Telegraph, 'Drawn to extend boundaries', pg. 36, Sydney, 08 Sep 2008, 36 (colour illus.). Review of Dobell Prize for Drawing. Virginia Grayson is pictured standing beside the work.

    • Lisa Hudson (Editor), the (sydney) magazine, 'Dobell Prize for Drawing', Sydney, Sep 2008, unknown.

    • Hendrik Kolenberg, Contemporary Australian Drawing: 20 years of the Dobell Prize for Drawing, ‘Introduction’, pg. 6-14, Sydney, 2012, 8, 50, 51 (illus.), 61.

    • Janet McKenzie, Contemporary Australian drawing #1, 'Virginia Grayson', pg. 88-89, South Yarra, 2012, 88, 89 (illus.).

    • Paul McLoughlin (Editor), Wagga Wagga Daily Advertiser, 'Life-drawing big winner', pg. 10, Wagga Wagga, 05 Sep 2008, 10 (illus., detail). Review of Dobell Prize for Drawing. Virginia Grayson is pictured standing beside the work.

    • Alan Oakley (Editor), The Sydney Morning Herald (metro), 'Exhibitions', Sydney, 12 Sep 2008-14 Sep 2008, (illus., detail). page number unknown

    • Corrie Perkin, The Australian, 'Art escapes to bin to win prize', pg. 3, Sydney, 05 Sep 2008, 3 (illus.). Review of Dobell Prize for Drawing. Virginia Grayson is pictured standing beside the work.

    • Louise Schwartzkoff, The Sydney Morning Herald, 'Erasing grace: catch winner while you can', pg. 11, Sydney, 05 Sep 2008, 11 (colour illus.). Review of Dobell Prize for Drawing. Virginia Grayson is pictured standing beside the work.

    • Louise Schwartzoff, Age, 'No conclusion but a happy ending for Dobell winner', pg. 10, Melbourne, 05 Sep 2008, 10 (illus.). Review of Dobell Prize for Drawing. Virginia Grayson is pictured standing beside the work.

    • Jill Sykes (Editor), Look, Sydney, Nov 2010, 49 (illus.). Society events

    • Ignacio Villarreal (Editor), artdaily.org, 'Virginia Grayson wins 2008 Dobell Prize for Drawing', Mexico City, 19 Oct 2012, (illus.). viewed 20.10.2008, http://www.artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=25968

    • Editor Unknown, Illawarra mercury, 'Rookie's Dobell', pg. 9, New South Wales, 05 Sep 2008, 9. Dobell Prize for Drawing.

    • Editor Unknown (Editor), The Border mail., 'Portrait a winner', pg. 2, Albury, 05 Sep 2008, 2 (illus.). Review of Dobell Prize for Drawing. Virginia Grayson is pictured standing beside the work.

    • Editor Unknown (Editor), The Australian financial review, 'What's on: Sydney', pg. 7, Sydney, 12 Sep 2008-14 Sep 2008, 7 (illus., detail). Virginia Grayson pictured standing in front of artwork.