John Brack
(Australia 1920–11 Feb 1999)
- Title
- The telephone box
- Year
- 1954
- Media category
- Painting
- Materials used
- oil on canvas
- Dimensions
-
80.3 x 47.1cm sight; 81.5 x 48.5cm stretcher; 84.5 x 51.5 x 4.6cm frame
- Signature & date
- Signed and dated l.r. corner, black oil "John Brack 54".
- Credit
- Anonymous gift 2010. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program
- Accession number
- 513.2010
- Copyright
- © Helen Brack
- Location
- 20th & 21st c Australian art
- Further information
This painting depicts a woman in mid conversation in a public telephone box. Her figure is constructed through a series of repeated angular forms, so that she appears to be an extension of the stark geometry of her surroundings. It illustrates John Brack’s strategy of drawing viewers into his work by positioning them as direct and close observers of his subjects. While conversations normally imply connections between people, this work presents the act of communication as strained and isolating.
'The telephone box' is indicative of the powerful statements about urban experience that the artist exhibited in his initial solo shows in 1953 and 1955, which established him as a significant presence in Australian art.
- Bibliography (12)
-
'Instilling the familiar with a lurking sense of uncertainty' by Denise Mimmocchi, pg. 29., Look Jul 2011, Jul 2011, 29 (colour illus.).
'Curators & Coordinators' reports' by Natalie Wilson., Foundation Newsletter #18 Jun 2011, Jun 2011, (colour illus.).
Martin Browne Fine Art (Australia) (Author), 20th century Australian and New Zealand painting, Sydney, 1991, (colour illus.). cat.no. 22
Sasha Grishin AM (Australia) (Author), The art of John Brack - Volume 1, Australia, 1990, 47.
Sasha Grishin AM (Australia) (Author), The art of John Brack - Volume 2, Australia, 1990, 6, 91 (illus.). cat.no. 36; Private collection
Robert Lindsay (Australia, b.1945) (Author), John Brack: a retrospective exhibition, Melbourne, 1987, 31 (illus.). cat no. 17; Private collection
Tony Lenten (Australia) (Author), City art, Victoria, 1978, 31 (illus.).
John Brack (Australia, b.1920, d.1999) (Author), John Brack retrospective: paintings and drawings, 1945-1977, Canberra, 1977, (illus.). cat.no. 7
John Brack: selected paintings and drawings 1947-1977, Melbourne, 1977. cat.no. 7; Collection of Mrs A.P. Webb
Ronald Millar (Australia, b.1927) (Author), John Brack, Melbourne, 1971, 58 (illus.). plate no. 31; illus. no. 19; Collection Mrs A.P. Webb, Victoria.ee
'Style and subject' by Alan McCullock, pg. 22., The Herald 09 Mar 1955, 09 Mar 1955, 22. Exhibition review, general reference.
Peter Bray Gallery (Australia) (Author), John Brack, Melbourne, 1955. cat.no. 11
- Exhibition history (5)
-
John Brack (1955), Peter Bray Gallery, 08 Mar 1955–17 Mar 1955.
John Brack: selected paintings and drawings 1947-1977 (1977), RMIT Gallery, 15 Mar 1977–01 Apr 1977.
John Brack: paintings and drawings 1945-1977 (1977), Australian National University, 21 Sep 1977–06 Oct 1977.
John Brack: a retrospective exhibition (1987-1988), National Gallery of Victoria [St Kilda Road], 10 Dec 1987–31 Jan 1988.
20th century Australian and New Zealand painting (1991), Martin Browne Fine Art, 22 Aug 1991–20 Sep 1991.
