Muzak mural - chair tableau
1980-1981
Medium
synthetic polymer paint on canvas and wood chairs, vinyl tiles on composition board
Measurements
(a-h) 240.0 × 330.0 × 90.2 cm (overall) (installation)
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Michell Endowment, 1982
© Courtesy of the artist's estate and Kalli Rolfe Contemporary Art
Gallery location
Gallery 11
Level 2, NGV Australia
About this work
Howard Arkley’s paintings feature complex pictorial arrangements that recall the optical play of art movements such as Pointillism, De Stijl and Op Art. Arkley said of Muzak mural – chair tableau, one of his best-known early works: ‘It is important to note that my work has direct outside content and is not rigidly self-referring (formalist). The chairs X, T, W, V, have multiple meanings. They belong to both art history (De Stijl, Bauhaus, etc.) and to aspects of everyday suburban life, with the psychological and social overtones, as well as being autobiographical.’
Artwork Details
Inscription
(e) inscribed in fibre-tipped pen on reverse l.r.: H Arkley 81 / Title. MUSAK MURAL
(f) inscribed in fibre-tipped pen on reverse l.r.: Howard Arkley 81 / Title. Musak Mural / (4 panels) / size / acrylic on canvas
(g-h) inscribed in fibre-tipped pen on reverse: H.ARKLEY
Accession Number
DC18.a-h-1982
Department
Contemporary Art