Arabesque 1979 [Curvilinear]

NB this work was previously listed in the present catalogue, incorrectly, as Arabesque 1978 (reflecting some confusion in earlier publications, as noted below). It should be distinguished from both Arabesque 1979 [Coloured Paisley] and Arabesque 1979 [Floral].

Shown in both Arkley’s solo ‘doors’ exhibitions (May 1979 and March 1980) as Curvilinear, this canvas was apparently inscribed with its present title later (possibly in 1988). Formerly in the collection of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Brisbane, it was purchased for Monash at the Sotheby’s auction of works from the MOCA collection in June 1991.

The curvilinear patterning is foreshadowed in several of Arkley’s ‘white’ drawings: see e.g. Untitled [A50] (c.1974-76) [W/P] and Untitled [A65] (c.1974-76) [W/P].

Provenance

• Museum of Contemporary Art, Brisbane (by 1988)
• auctioned by Sotheby’s, Melb., 16 June 1991 (MOCA sale), lot 47 (est.$2-3,000; sold for $2,200 inc.buyer’s premium)
• Monash University collection (purchased from the above)

Exhibited

• HA Tolarno 5/79, cat.12 (as Curvilinear)
• HA Coventry 3/80, cat.7 (as Curvilinear)
• Australian Perspecta, AGNSW 1981, as part of Untitled [Installation] (1981) [3/M]
• Roslyn Oxley9, Sydney, 1/88 (1968-1988 Selected Works): as Arabesque 1978
• George Paton Gallery, Univ.of Melbourne, 8/88 (‘Suburbanism’), cat.1: as Arabesque 1978 (MOCA coll.)
• Queensland Art Gallery 1990 (‘Art of the 1970s’)
• HA Monash 1991, cat.14: as Curvilinear 1978
• Monash Uni. 11/94 (‘Tableaux: works from the Monash Uni.coll.’), cat.2
• HA TarraWarra 12/15-2/16

Literature

• Taylor, Art + Text #1, 1981, p.27 (B&W ill.)
• Engberg, ‘Suburbanism’ 1988 (exh.cat.), 3-4 (B&W ill.: as Arabesque 1978)
• Spray 33