WHITELEY
Australia, 2017, 90 minutes, Colour.
Directed by James Bogle.
Brett Whiteley was one of Australia’s most significant artists in the latter part of the 20th century. He was a prolific painter, studying in Europe, especially in France, moving to England, working in the United States, then moving back home, setting up a studio, entering competitions including the Archibald prize. His adult life, perhaps paralleling so many artists, was disturbed, alcohol and drugs, relationships, leading to his untimely death at the age of 53.
The value of this portrait of Whiteley and his art is that the style of the film, its structure, its visuals, special effects, all reflect the visual style of Whiteley’s working and of his paintings. The audience sees many of the paintings, sometimes wide in scope, often in close-up, but the atmosphere throughout is of paint, colour, frequent arresting movement, studio interiors, specially chosen shots of nature, sunrise, skies and clouds…
The film is the work of director, James Bogle, who began with some feature films, including In the Winter Dark, based on a Tim Winton story, but then moving into television work.
The film recreates the early life of Whiteley, actors standing in for some of these sequences, then moving into clips of the artist himself and his work. There is a focus on his daughter, Arkie, who is seen suddenly saying that she was expecting news of her father’s death. Sadly, she herself died in her 30s from cancer. Also present is Whiteley’s wife, Wendy, married to him for a long period, sometimes alienated, putting up with him, supporting him in his work, and, after his death, spending years setting up a Memorial Garden in North Sydney.
Included in the film are comments from his friends and colleagues as welly as well as art experts.
His studio was turned into an exhibition space, making his work available to the general public.
The film serves as an introduction to Whiteley and his work – but also serves as a tribute of interest to those who know his work well.
