City of Sydney to help fund new documentary on acclaimed Australian artist Brett Whiteley
A NEW documentary on the life of the late Australian artist Brett Whitely is being part-funded with $10,000 of Sydney rate payers cash.
THE life of renowned Sydney artist Brett Whiteley will be presented in a new documentary, thanks to funding by the City of Sydney.
The documentary, produced by Northern Pictures, will posthumously celebrate the life and legacy of the artist, whose 1976 work, My Armchair, sold for $3.9 million in 2013, the second-highest price achieved for an Australian painting.
As part of its $1.2 million grants program, which is being used to support 57 projects, the City of Sydney has provided $10,000 towards the documentary.
Liberal councillor Edward Mandla, who has been highly critical of the City’s financial contributions to certain grants programs, supported the decision to fund the documentary.
“Compared to some of the mad grants that have been proposed in the past year, this one actually seems like a great idea,” Cr Mandla said.
Combining archive footage, drama and music of the day, Northern Pictures’ documentary titled Whiteley will be the first inside story told about the artist since the 1988 documentary Difficult Pleasure.
The film will also feature Whiteley’s studio, art and family archives will be featured in the presentation.
REVELLERS TRASH WENDY WHITELEY’S SECRET GARDEN
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said Whiteley’s significant contributions to the City had earned him the right to have his life story preserved through film.
“Brett Whiteley was one of Australia’s most important artists; a two-time winner of the prestigious Archibald, Sulman and Wynne art prizes, even making history in 1978 when he was awarded all three,” Cr Moore said.
“His contribution to Australian art was significant, and his influence is still being felt today.
“Our grants program supports the arts and many other cultural programs to bring people together to build a sense of community for everyone.”
REVELLERS TRASH WENDY WHITELEY’S SECRET GARDEN
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Northern Pictures managing director, Sue Clothier has spent almost half a decade preparing to make the documentary.
“We intend to tell Brett’s story in an engaging and authentic way,” Ms Clothier said.
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“Since we began researching five years ago, we became more convinced that it was time to take a fresh look at one of Australia’s most culturally significant artists of the 1960s, 70s and 80s.”
The documentary Whiteley is currently in production.
AN EVENTFUL LIFE
Brett Whiteley AO, born on April 7, 1939, was a major Australian artist whose works are represented in the collections of all the large Australian galleries.
He was a multiple winner of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes.
He had many shows in his career, and lived and painted extensively in Italy, England, Fiji, and the US.
On June 15, 1992, at the age of 53, he was found dead from a heroin overdose in a motel room in Thirroul, a small town north of Wollongong.
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