What it’s like to be captured by my friends (1972) [W/P]

Synthetic polymer paint, pencil, ink and collage on paper, 43.5 x 68.5

signed and titled [on reverse in pencil: ‘H.Arkley / What it’s like’]

Private collection, Melbourne

Shown together with Have you any glass friends (1972) [W/P] in the 1991 Arkley survey at Monash. This work is clearly identified via Monash VA slide (taken at the 1991 exhibition).

Arkley’s archive contains several slides of this work, one with process date Dec72, labelled ‘Flying In’ (an alternative title?).

Provenance

  • artist’s collection (A299)
  • P/C Melb.

Exhibited

  • HA Monash 1991, cat.1 (details as above)

Literature

  • Spray 15 (B&W reproduction: as ‘Glass Friends’ 1970)

Untitled [A148] 1972 [W/P]

Synthetic polymer paint and conte on paper, 41.1 x 63.4

signed and dated [l.l., within image:  Arkley 72]

State Library of Victoria

An early abstract composition; the signature suggests it may have been exhibited at some stage.

Provenance

  • artist’s collection (no.A148)
  • P/C Melb.
  • State Library of Victoria, 2021

Self contained (1972) [W/P]

Pencil and fibre-tipped pen on paper, 51 x 76

titled [on reverse, in pencil]

Coll.: unknown

This work, exhibited in the 1991 Monash Arkley survey, appears in installation photos taken for the Monash Visual Arts slide library (as reproduced here); unfortunately no better image is available.

A detail of a different pencil drawing, also titled ‘Self-contained’, but dated 1970, is reproduced in Spray (14); that work, preserved in Arkley’s studio collection, shows similar ‘creatures’ in boxes (for this motif, characteristic of Arkley’s early work, see Carnival 161-3).

Provenance

  • artist’s collection (noted thus in HA Monash 1991)

Exhibited

  • HA Monash 1991, cat.3 (details as above)

Have you any glass friends (1972) [W/P]

Synthetic polymer paint, pencil, ink and collage on paper, 42 x 67.5

Private collection, Melbourne

The highly finished work on paper reproduced here is probably identical with the work exhibited with this title and date in HA Monash 1991, shown together with the closely related example What it’s like to be captured by my friends (1972) [W/P].

Provenance

  • artist’s collection (noted thus in HA Monash 1991)
  • P/C Melb.

Exhibitions

  • HA Monash 1991, cat.2 (as ‘mixed media collage on paper’, 43.5 x 68.5)

Untitled [red/white frames] (1972)

Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 168 x 168

Private collection, Melbourne

Arkley’s file slide (processed Dec72), reproduced here, suggests a date of 1972 – as does the style, comparable with other works such as Transpass 1972.

Provenance

  • artist’s collection
  • P/C Melb.

Untitled [metallic stripes] (1972?)

Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, {size unknown}

Coll.: unknown

Arkley’s undated file slide (the sole source) shows the work against a similar background to one processed in June 1974, reproducing Laura’s Living Black 1972, which this work resembles in its use of quasi-metallic patterning and colour.

Possibly identical with Inhaling (c.1973-4) as exh. Bunbury 1974 (catalogued as 5½’ square); but this work looks rectangular, and therefore could be one of the other unidentified Arkley canvases dating from 1973-4.

Provenance

  • unknown

Exhibitions

  • ? (see comments above)

Untitled [blue/black with boxes] (1972)

Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 168 x 168

signed [on reverse]

Private collection, Melbourne

Not exhibited or reproduced previously. Possibly incomplete? The date is suggested by Arkley’s file slide (processed Dec72), reproduced here.

Provenance

  • artist’s collection
  • P/C Melb.

Transpass 1972

Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 168 x 168

signed and dated [on reverse, in black fibre-tipped pen: H.Arkley 1972]

Private collection, Melbourne

One of the artist’s first significant works, this painting was included in a group show at the University of Melbourne in 1972, and subsequently earnt Arkley his first major award, the Frankston Art Prize, in 1974. Listed in HA Bio.1969-75 as 5½’ square.

For possible planning notes, see Sketchbook no. 5 (early 1970s?).

Provenance

  • artist’s collection
  • P/C Melb.

Exhibited

  • George Paton Gallery, Melb. Uni., 1972 (‘Paces’): price listed as $160
  • Frankston Art Prize, Jan.1974 (winner)
  • HA Monash 1991, cat.4 (details as above)

Literature

  • Spray 15 (B&W reproduction)

Laura’s Living Black 1972

Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 168 x 168

signed and dated [on reverse, in black fibre-tipped pen: H.Arkley / 1972]

Private collection, Melbourne

This painting, clearly a close relative of Transpass 1972, was first exhibited at the 1991 Arkley survey show at Monash.

Provenance

  • artist’s collection
  • P/C Melb.

Exhibited

  • HA Monash 1991, cat.5 (details as above)