Robert Klippel

(Australia, United States of America 19 Jun 1920–19 Jun 2001)

Title

No 714 Wooden prototype for Adelaide Plaza bronze

Other titles:

Wooden prototype for Adelaide Plaza bronze, Adelaide, Opus 714

Year

1988

Media category

Sculpture

Materials used

wood assemblage

Dimensions

300.0 x 350.0 x 135.0cm

Credit

Purchased 1989

Accession number

57.1989

Copyright

Location

Not on display

Further information

Throughout the 1980s Klippel worked on a series of large wooden assemblages composed of discarded wooden patterns for machine parts. Colin Lanceley had discovered them in an industrial foundry in Ultimo during 1964. Decades later they proved ideal material for Klippel's explorations into the subtle relationships of mass, volume and planes. 'Opus 714' is a masterwork from this series. It grew out of Klippel's earlier experiments with photographic collages, as in 'Philadelphia', 1979, also in the Gallery's collection.

Often considered a miniaturist, Klippel reveals in 'Opus 714' a shift towards large, monumental forms. He has achieved an apparently random yet perfectly balanced composition of dramatic colour, space and solid frontality. The disparate elements in 'Opus 714' have been brought into an asymmetrical yet balanced whole, in which the relationships of the static parts create an 'organic' energy.

Bibliography (20)

Nicolas Brasch, The arts in Australia: Visual arts 2005, 'Modernist sculpture in Australia', pg. 18, Port Melbourne, 2005, 18 (colour illus.).

Jeni Cooper (Editor in Chief), Sunday telegraph 06 Oct 2002, 'Big sculpture to be digested in bits', Sydney, 06 Oct 2002, (colour illus.). In 'Express Arts' section.

Sue Cramer, Cubism & Australian art 2009, 'This Spiritual Adventure: Postwar Cubism 1950-1979', pg. 154-197, Carlton, 2009, 166 (colour illus.).

Antony Davies, The Australian 05 Sep 2007, 'Works of art inspired by the junkyard', pg. 8, Sydney, 05 Sep 2007, 8, 8 (illus.).

Rob Ditessa', Artist's palette 2000, 'Icons on show', pg. 54-59, Sydney, 2000, 59 (colour illus.).

Deborah Edwards (Curator), Natalie Wilson (Assistant Curator) and Eric Riddler (Compilator), Robert Klippel: Catalogue raisonné of sculpture 2002, Domain, 2002, (illus.). No. 714 (a) Wooden prototype for Adelaide Plaza bronze

Deborah Edwards, Robert Klippel, 'Still point in the moving world: Sydney 1980s-90s', pg. 186-223, Domain, 2002, 186 (colour illus., detail), 187, 191, 211 (colour illus.).

Deborah Edwards and Edmund Capon, Robert Klippel: large wood sculptures and collages 1995, Domain, 1995, front cover (colour illus., detail), 25 (colour illus.). Also reproduced on exhibition invitation

Anna Fern and David Llewellyn, Australia's best: artists & designers 2004, 'Robert Klippel', pg. 22-23, Melbourne, 2004, 22, 23 (colour illus.).

Benjamin Genocchio., The Australian 23 Aug 2002, 'Cooler kind of Mecanno', Surry Hills, 23 Aug 2002, (colour illus.).

Bruce James, Art Gallery of New South Wales handbook, 'Australian Collection: Painting and Sculpture', pg. 102-181, Domain, 1999, 173 (colour illus.).

Susan McCulloch-Uehlin, The Australian 20 Jun 2001, 'The nation's leading sculptor dead at 81', pg. 7, Surry Hills, 20 Jun 2001, 7 (illus.). Obituary by Susan McCulloch-Uehlin

Giucio Montagna (Editor), La Fiamma 07 Aug 2002, 'Klippel: Australia's greatest sculptor', pg. 17, Leichhardt, 07 Aug 2002, 17 (illus.).

Barry Pearce, Australian art: in the Art Gallery of New South Wales, 'The enduring image', pg. 265-266, Domain, 2000, 275 (colour illus.), 301.

Barry Pearce., Older Australian masters: an exhibition of works by major Australian artists executed in the later years of their careers 1991, 'Preface', Domain, 1991, (illus.). not paginated, no catalogue numbers

Ursula Prunster, Aspects of Australian art 2000, Domain, 2000, (illus.). card no. 10: James Gleeson and Robert Klippel 'Madame Sophie Sesostoris (a pre-raphaelite satire) 1947-48

Michael Reid, The Weekend Australian 05 Oct 2002-06 Oct 2002, 'Luminary ways of mover-shaper', pg. 36, Surry Hills, 05 Oct 2002-06 Oct 2002, 36 (illus.).

Lisa Slade and Rachael Kirsten, Enter Art 2000, Sydney, 2000, sheet number 8 (colour illus.). Education kit produced by the NSW Dept of Education and Training as teaching resource for primary school teachers.

Jane Somerville, Look Oct 2005, 'Looking back: celebrating 20 years of words and images for Society members', pg. 10-11, Newtown, Oct 2005, 10 (colour illus.).

David Tunny., Look May 1990, 'The sculptor's studio: Robert Klippel', Domain, May 1990, 3 (colour illus., detail), 13 (colour illus.).

Exhibition history (3)

Older Australian masters: an exhibition of works by major Australian artists executed in the later years of their careers, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 16 Mar 1992–12 Apr 1992

Robert Klippel: large wood sculptures and collages (1995), Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 22 Jun 1995–13 Aug 1995

Australian icons: twenty artists from the collection, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 04 Aug 2000–03 Dec 2000