Brett Whiteley: West of the Divide

Overview

The latest exhibition at Brett Whiteley studio, West of the Divide celebrates what was a lifelong affinity between Whiteley and the land west of Sydney — encompassing Bathurst, Oberon, Sofala and beyond.

Showcasing his iconic, inspired translation of the Australian landscape that combined elements of abstraction and realism in an incredibly lyrical, expressive way, you'll see both intimate studies and larger poetic works filled with birds, nests, trees, rocks and rivers. This particular collection of paintings, sculpture and drawings — arguably some of his most magical — spans three decades of Whiteley's career and were personally selected by Wendy Whiteley and Alec George.

If you're a fan of Whiteley's work you should also check out the upcoming documentary Whiteley by James Bogle (released May 11), promising to be a "raw and intimate" insight into his both his life and his creative legacy. Bogle and co-writer Victor Gentile have drawn from personal letters, notebooks and photographs and combined them with interviews, re-enactments and animations. Check out the trailer.

Image: Brett Whiteley, Autumn (near Bathurst) — Japenese Autumn, 1987 - 1988.