David Jones, artist and poet (1895-1974) begins his PREFACE TO THE ANATHEMATA :

'I have made a heap of all that I could find.' (1) So wrote Nennius, or whoever composed the introductory matter to Historia Brittonum. He speaks of an 'inward wound' which was caused by the fear that certain things dear to him 'should be like smoke dissipated'. Further, he says, 'not trusting my own learning, which is none at all, but partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the Romans and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymous, Prosper, Eusebius and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons although our enemies . . . I have lispingly put together this . . . about past transactions, that [this material] might not be trodden under foot'. (2)

(1) The actual words are coacervavi omne quod inveni, and occur in Prologue 2 to the Historia.
(2) Quoted from the translation of Prologue 1. See The Works of Gildas and Nennius, J.A.Giles, London 1841.


12 February 2022

CV


In 1977, works were framed and ready for their imminent showing upstairs at Powell Street Gallery, Melbourne. Coming after the breakthrough series (1974-1976) shown at that gallery the previous year, this exhibition was to include a further development, another series (1976-1977)
framed and suspended by hanging wires, black and white oil paintings on canvas, images of self and other and light apportioned in equal thirds.

 from that series
Two weeks before the opening, the directors wrote to inform that the show was cancelled so that the English artist John Walker, scheduled to show his paintings downstairs, could also show some works on paper upstairs. Artist Quits Gallery.

 for the scheduled exhibition
Planned for impact in 1977 Melbourne, these paintings were instead exhibited in Brisbane two years later at Ray Hughes Gallery. Scheduled for exhibition in 1977, some of these works (the painted light bulbs, the Art Cult photos) have still not been shown or seen. 

 invitation for the 1979 Brisbane exhibition
Soon for auction in Melbourne, Lot 59 was one of those works. It is shown below as re-presented by the auction house : guillotined from the artist's frame and requisite hanging wires, materially mis-described, and priced in estimate below the artist's current commercial pricing (which includes a 50% gallery commission).

NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK COLLECTION :
Highlights of Australian Art
MELBOURNE AUCTION : Deutscher & Hackett
22 February 2022

LOT 59
PETER TYNDALL
born 1951
A PERSON LOOKS AT A WORK OF ART,
1977
synthetic polymer paint on canvas
90.0 x 44.5 cm
signed verso: PETER TYNDALL
inscribed with title and date verso:
A PERSON LOOKS AT A WORK OF ART.
1977.
ESTIMATE: $5,000 – $8,000


Theatre of the Auctions of Regard   
 detail
 A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
 someone looks at something...
  
 LOGOS/HA HA