Untitled [‘White Painting’]; and source material (1988 and earlier) [W/P]

The suggested title is based on Arkley’s planning notes for this show (in his archive). Again, the sole documentation from the time appears to be the indistinct image in the IMA installation photos, shown below.

The central work appeared at auction with Deutscher-Menzies in 2003, when it was identified as an ‘Abstract’ work dating from c.1974. It is evidently closely related to Winter Notations 1975 and other ‘white’ examples from that period, but was presumably produced in or slightly before 1988, like all the other large works on paper in the ‘Casual Works’ show. This larger work was auctioned again in 2024.

In this particular case, the ‘source material’ shown in 1988 appears to have comprised original ‘white’ works on paper produced by Arkley in the 1970s. The three larger examples visible to the left in the installation photo correspond to the works listed in the present catalogue as Untitled [W13 (i)] (c.1974-76) [W/P], Untitled [W13 (ii)] (c.1974-76) [W/P] and Untitled [W14] (c.1974-76) [W/P] (‘White’ W/P cat.nos.186-88). All three were found in the artist’s studio collection after his death, affixed to clear plastic.

The works to the right of the installation shot presumably correspond to smaller-scale examples from the 1970s (see White W/P cat.nos.1-150), but are impossible to identify certainly.

(Photos: main work on paper (above); installation shot IMA 1988 [archive copy])

Provenance

• Main work on paper auctioned by Deutscher-Menzies, Melb., 4-5 June 2003, lot 168 (as ‘Abstract c.1974;’ size as above; ill.; est.$8-12,000; sold for $7,000 plus buyer’s premium)
• Main work on paper auctioned again by Gibson’s, Melb., 27 Oct.2024, lot 26 (now identified as from the ‘Casual Works’ exhibition, circa 1988; ill.and details as shown here; est.$15-25,ooo; not sold)

Exhibited

• HA ‘Casual Works’, 200 Gertrude Street and IMA, Brisbane, 1988