Lace-Lanced 1983 [W/P]

This early example of Arkley’s cacti was first exhibited in his May 1984 ‘Cacti and Succulents’ show at the Roslyn Oxley9 gallery in Sydney, as ‘Lace-Lanced’. It may also be identical with the work on paper shown as ‘Lanced Lace’ in HA Quentin 2/85 (although there are no photos to verify this). Installation slides in Arkley’s archive, reproduced here, clearly identify it as one of the three Arkley works on paper included in the ‘6 Drawing’ group exhibition in Hobart in Sept.1985, where it was shown as ‘Lanced Lace.’ In 2002 it was auctioned as ‘Untitled’, noting that it came from the collection of Arkley expert Ashley Crawford.

The ‘exploding box’ motif to the right here also features in the Oct.1983 Tolarno exhibition invitation (reproduced under 1983 exhibitions), and The Triffids [poster] 1985 [W/P].

NB this work was previously listed in the present catalogue as Untitled [Lanced Lace] 1983 [W/P] (entry revised April 2022).

Provenance

• Coll.Ashley Crawford (acc.to Christie’s 6/02)
• auctioned by Christie’s, Melb., 25 June 2002, lot 72 (as ‘Untitled’; details as shown here; ill.; est.$20-30,000; not sold)

Exhibited

• HA Roslyn Oxley9, 5/84, cat.7 (as Lace-Lanced, W/P, 110 x 150; reproduced on the gallery’s current website under archived exhibitions, but upside down)
• (possibly) HA Quentin, Perth, 2/85, cat.18 (Lanced Lace; no details or photo)
• Tasmanian School of Art, Hobart, 9/85 (‘6 Drawing’), cat.3 (as Lanced Lace 1984; size given as 112.5 x 152)