Deluxe Setting 1992

A widely-published example of Arkley’s mature use of clashing hues and vivid patterning, including extensive stencilling. The result is paradoxically controlled, as if all the competing forces have reached a point of momentary equilibrium (Arkley’s contemporary Kathy Temin made related comments on the formal achievement here, in her contribution to the Arkley retrospective audio-guide in 2006).

The composition, based on a page in Gold’s Instant Decorator, varies that used for the right-hand canvas of Blue Chip Instant Decorator (1991-2) [3/M].

This painting was reproduced on the 1992 ‘Mix’n Match exhibition invitation, and the catalogue cover (B&W photo including Arkley himself, also brightly patterned: see reproduction above, under exhibition entry), and later featured on the cover of Carnival in Suburbia.

The work was bought from the Tolarno show, and remained in the same collection until 2019, when it was auctioned for a new record price for Arkley.

Provenance

• Tolarno Galleries, 1992
• Private collection, Melbourne
• Auctioned by Menzies, Melbourne, 27 June 2019, lot 32 (est.$800-$1,200,000; sold for $1,250,000 plus buyer’s premium [$1,534,091])

Exhibited

• HA Tolarno 10/92 (‘Mix’n Match’), cat.1 (details as above)
• ‘Australia: Familiar & Strange’, Korea 1996
• ‘Claustrophobia’, Birmingham (U.K.) etc., June 1998-Jan.2000
• HA retrospective 2006-7 (all 3 venues)

Literature

• Gregory 1992 (exh.cat., unpaginated)
• Rooney 1992 (exh.review; inc.B&W ill.)
• Spray 111 (ill.)
• Carnival Fig.3.17 (and front cover)
• NGVA Arkley audio-guide 2006 (comments by Jason Smith and Kathy Temin, as noted above)