Twenty nine paintings were supposed to say something through their titles if not through their reason for being; twenty nine went onto the truck. Out of how many, seventy, well, forty six. Others could not be counted. But one was an actor, so there were really only twenty eight.

—Dale Frank

Exhibition Dates: 11 February – 6 March 2010

Twenty nine paintings were supposed to say something through their titles if not through their reason for being; twenty nine went onto the truck. Out of how many, seventy, well, forty six. Others could not be counted. But one was an actor, so there were really only twenty eight., 2009



Dale Frank is one of Australia’s foremost contemporary painters. His career spans over thirty years. In 1983, he was included in the exhibition ‘Panorama della post - critica: critica ed arte at the Museo Palazzo Lanfranchi in Pisa along with Thomas Lawson and Anselm Kiefer (curated by Helena Kontova)’. In 1984 he was included in the Aperto section of the Venice Biennale. Returning to Australia, in 1990 he was included in the 8th Biennale of Sydney (curated by Rene Block). A major solo retrospective of his work was held at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney in 2000. Frank was included in the important recent survey exhibition, ‘Contemporary Australia: Optimism’ at the Queensland Art Gallery / Gallery of Modern Art in 2008. His paintings are held in every major public collection in Australia and in numerous private and corporate collections in Australia, Europe and the U.S. In 2005 Frank won The Arthur Guy Memorial Painting Prize at the Bendigo Art Gallery, Victoria. A major new monograph on Frank’s work ‘So Far: the Art of Dale Frank 2005-1980’ was published in 2007. Frank has been selected for the 2010 Biennale of Sydney ‘The Beauty of Distance, Songs of Survival in a Precarious Age’, curated by David Elliott. Dale Frank has been exhibiting with Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery since 1982.

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Dale Frank He had done everything that had been expected of him throughout his earlier years. Now approaching something else, the continuation was comforting to know, if not for him if he dared admit anything contrary., 2009; varnish on canvas; 200 x 260 cm; enquire
He had done everything that had been expected of him throughout his earlier years. Now approaching something else, the continuation was comforting to know, if not for him if he dared admit anything contrary., 2009
varnish on canvas
200 x 260 cm
Dale Frank 2. He pushed himself into his car. Breakneck speed was chocolate and coconut covered as he gradually urged the car from the garage in R watching not to scrape the sides. Apart from the first few minutes after the end of the driveway were he had to reach 120 to clean out the air filters the rest of the trip was sedate. , 2009; varnish and acrylic on canvas; 200 x 260 cm; enquire
2. He pushed himself into his car. Breakneck speed was chocolate and coconut covered as he gradually urged the car from the garage in R watching not to scrape the sides. Apart from the first few minutes after the end of the driveway were he had to reach 120 to clean out the air filters the rest of the trip was sedate. , 2009
varnish and acrylic on canvas
200 x 260 cm
Dale Frank 3. Of course the very idea of having to clean out the air filters was a consequence of self diagnosis. What else would explain the jerks and lurches and the lack of performance. , 2009; varnish and acrylic on canvas; 200 x 260 cm; enquire
3. Of course the very idea of having to clean out the air filters was a consequence of self diagnosis. What else would explain the jerks and lurches and the lack of performance. , 2009
varnish and acrylic on canvas
200 x 260 cm
Dale Frank 4. Once on the road it was a matter of maintaining the flow, that is until sheer boredom took the wheel, or an imagination racked by repetitiveness, the bow of a violin back and forth across the strings, back and forth, the motorway of thoughts, a tire against asphalt rhythm., 2009; varnish and acrylic on canvas; 200 x 260 cm; enquire
4. Once on the road it was a matter of maintaining the flow, that is until sheer boredom took the wheel, or an imagination racked by repetitiveness, the bow of a violin back and forth across the strings, back and forth, the motorway of thoughts, a tire against asphalt rhythm., 2009
varnish and acrylic on canvas
200 x 260 cm
Dale Frank 25. He had left four paintings on the go in the studio when he left, wet, moving around, they were left to find their own way. If they just stayed calm they would be able survive the every gradually solidifying ooze in which they lay., 2009; varnish on canvas; 120 x 160 cm; enquire
25. He had left four paintings on the go in the studio when he left, wet, moving around, they were left to find their own way. If they just stayed calm they would be able survive the every gradually solidifying ooze in which they lay., 2009
varnish on canvas
120 x 160 cm
Dale Frank 5. With no Will and only regrets he smothered in thoughts. He hated leaving home, especially for this. Countless plastic Pepsi Max bottles juggling their sloshing unfinished remains on the floor of the front passenger seat. , 2009; varnish on canvas; 200 x 260 cm; enquire
5. With no Will and only regrets he smothered in thoughts. He hated leaving home, especially for this. Countless plastic Pepsi Max bottles juggling their sloshing unfinished remains on the floor of the front passenger seat. , 2009
varnish on canvas
200 x 260 cm
Dale Frank 26. Some sort of parrot or two hit the grill., 2009; varnish and acrylic on canvas; 160 x 120 cm; enquire
26. Some sort of parrot or two hit the grill., 2009
varnish and acrylic on canvas
160 x 120 cm
Dale Frank 27. He could not really remember what the other one looked like, did he have bleached hair, or was that himself., 2009; varnish on canvas; 120 x 160 cm; enquire
27. He could not really remember what the other one looked like, did he have bleached hair, or was that himself., 2009
varnish on canvas
120 x 160 cm
Dale Frank 6. It's the mobile, it's Gary. I better answer it he thought fumbling around. The answer button and the O had broken., 2009; varnish and acrylic on canvas; 200 x 260 cm; enquire
6. It's the mobile, it's Gary. I better answer it he thought fumbling around. The answer button and the O had broken., 2009
varnish and acrylic on canvas
200 x 260 cm
Dale Frank 29. Most of the people he only loved now were either on television, or looked good on television., 2009; varnish on canvas; 160 x 120 cm; enquire
29. Most of the people he only loved now were either on television, or looked good on television., 2009
varnish on canvas
160 x 120 cm
Dale Frank 28. He had once meet and spent the night out drinking with Marc Almond. But he could only remember the human skulls encrusted with fake jewels on wall plinths high up around the perfectly symmetrical room., 2009; varnish and acrylic on canvas; 120 x 160 cm; enquire
28. He had once meet and spent the night out drinking with Marc Almond. But he could only remember the human skulls encrusted with fake jewels on wall plinths high up around the perfectly symmetrical room., 2009
varnish and acrylic on canvas
120 x 160 cm
Dale Frank 7. Twenty nine paintings were suppose to say something through their titles if not through their reason for being; twenty nine went onto the truck. Out of how many, seventy, well, forty six. Others could not be counted. But one was an actor, so there were really only twenty eight., 2009; varnish on canvas; 200 x 260 cm; enquire
7. Twenty nine paintings were suppose to say something through their titles if not through their reason for being; twenty nine went onto the truck. Out of how many, seventy, well, forty six. Others could not be counted. But one was an actor, so there were really only twenty eight., 2009
varnish on canvas
200 x 260 cm
Dale Frank A one point two five liter bottle is to too tall to finish off in a sedan, you need a four wheel drive with that extra roof height to lift the bottle, 2009; varnish on canvas; 200 x 260 cm; enquire
A one point two five liter bottle is to too tall to finish off in a sedan, you need a four wheel drive with that extra roof height to lift the bottle, 2009
varnish on canvas
200 x 260 cm
Dale Frank 9. The Freeway under construction, first discussed, first vital, over twenty five years ago, a toile landscape of ruddish proportions. Greta, Branxton, Lovedale, always greeted with cynicism, Cessnock. , 2009; varnish on canvas; 200 x 260 cm; enquire
9. The Freeway under construction, first discussed, first vital, over twenty five years ago, a toile landscape of ruddish proportions. Greta, Branxton, Lovedale, always greeted with cynicism, Cessnock. , 2009
varnish on canvas
200 x 260 cm
Dale Frank 10. The Chinese Military machine, a watercolor fragment, 2009; varnish and acrylic on canvas; 200 x 260 cm; enquire
10. The Chinese Military machine, a watercolor fragment, 2009
varnish and acrylic on canvas
200 x 260 cm
Dale Frank 11. Xavier Samuel, 2009; varnish on canvas; 200 x 260 cm; enquire
11. Xavier Samuel, 2009
varnish on canvas
200 x 260 cm
Dale Frank 12. He felt a twinge in his knees, still sun burnt from the day on the ride on. He pushed forward in his seat, adjusting to his side, finding temporary comfort. The electronic adjuster was useless, up down, forward back, deep incline, lumber support. , 2009; varnish on canvas; 200 x 200 cm; enquire
12. He felt a twinge in his knees, still sun burnt from the day on the ride on. He pushed forward in his seat, adjusting to his side, finding temporary comfort. The electronic adjuster was useless, up down, forward back, deep incline, lumber support. , 2009
varnish on canvas
200 x 200 cm
Dale Frank 13. His deterioration mediated through countless other mediocre meaningless ailments that in reality only signaled the loss that comes with aging. A loss he grappled with, contradicted, was resigned, and rebelled against every day. , 2009; varnish on canvas; 200 x 200 cm; enquire
13. His deterioration mediated through countless other mediocre meaningless ailments that in reality only signaled the loss that comes with aging. A loss he grappled with, contradicted, was resigned, and rebelled against every day. , 2009
varnish on canvas
200 x 200 cm
Dale Frank 14. A fine pine splinter slither from a stretcher bar in the bend between his index finger and his palm had become infected repeatedly distracting his eye. , 2009; varnish and acrylic on canvas; 200 x 200 cm; enquire
14. A fine pine splinter slither from a stretcher bar in the bend between his index finger and his palm had become infected repeatedly distracting his eye. , 2009
varnish and acrylic on canvas
200 x 200 cm
Dale Frank 15. In essence his only regret was that he could not do it again, start over again, do it differently, maybe not so differently. Start again, a second chance basically. And if not that, then to live forever, Vampirism power to stay around forever. , 2009; varnish on canvas; 200 x 200 cm; enquire
15. In essence his only regret was that he could not do it again, start over again, do it differently, maybe not so differently. Start again, a second chance basically. And if not that, then to live forever, Vampirism power to stay around forever. , 2009
varnish on canvas
200 x 200 cm
Dale Frank 16. Even though almost everything he did had the consequence of doing the opposite. One small wrong decision, a bad decision, leads to wrong options, which had led to further wrong options. Further and further from the intention. , 2009; varnish and acrylic on canvas; 200 x 200 cm; enquire
16. Even though almost everything he did had the consequence of doing the opposite. One small wrong decision, a bad decision, leads to wrong options, which had led to further wrong options. Further and further from the intention. , 2009
varnish and acrylic on canvas
200 x 200 cm
Dale Frank 17. String Theory, parallel universes in day to day reactions and bad decisions., 2009; varnish on canvas; 200 x 200 cm; enquire
17. String Theory, parallel universes in day to day reactions and bad decisions., 2009
varnish on canvas
200 x 200 cm
Dale Frank 18. He noticed that house was back on the market again. It had only been 12 months, definitely the noise from the increased trains running along one boundary. , 2009; varnish and acrylic on canvas; 200 x 200 cm; enquire
18. He noticed that house was back on the market again. It had only been 12 months, definitely the noise from the increased trains running along one boundary. , 2009
varnish and acrylic on canvas
200 x 200 cm
Dale Frank 19. He had not been alone at home for over four months, maybe five. He desperately need too. The irony was not lost that he had to drive 2 hours and be around for these obligations, he had to listen to a hundred voiceovers, in order to find the time to be alone., 2009; varnish on canvas; 200 x 200 cm; enquire
19. He had not been alone at home for over four months, maybe five. He desperately need too. The irony was not lost that he had to drive 2 hours and be around for these obligations, he had to listen to a hundred voiceovers, in order to find the time to be alone., 2009
varnish on canvas
200 x 200 cm
Dale Frank 20. Passing the half way mark. He had forgotten to tell them to feed Famous and the cats, surely they would notice to, criss crossing the staff and their own shifts in power living., 2009; varnish on canvas; 200 x 200 cm; enquire
20. Passing the half way mark. He had forgotten to tell them to feed Famous and the cats, surely they would notice to, criss crossing the staff and their own shifts in power living., 2009
varnish on canvas
200 x 200 cm
Dale Frank 21. Global warming really means you have to spend longer in your air conditioned car.  You are going to do that anyway.  The Nervous System of memories, Nature finds balance, tomorrow., 2009; varnish on canvas; 200 x 200 cm; enquire
21. Global warming really means you have to spend longer in your air conditioned car. You are going to do that anyway. The Nervous System of memories, Nature finds balance, tomorrow., 2009
varnish on canvas
200 x 200 cm
Dale Frank 22. Bella Vista is the name of the new suburb created to house the new Woolworth's Headquarters. "Bella vista" in relation to everything else; it would be a good occupation, to sit back and think up the names of new suburbs and places, place that did not exist until you came up with a name., 2009; varnish on canvas; 200 x 200 cm; enquire
22. Bella Vista is the name of the new suburb created to house the new Woolworth's Headquarters. "Bella vista" in relation to everything else; it would be a good occupation, to sit back and think up the names of new suburbs and places, place that did not exist until you came up with a name., 2009
varnish on canvas
200 x 200 cm
Dale Frank 23. He glanced to the side noticing the determined grimace of the back and forth frozen mouth clown in the car traveling beside his. Was it a mocking expression from the Korean driver., 2009; varnish and acrylic on canvas; 200 x 200 cm; enquire
23. He glanced to the side noticing the determined grimace of the back and forth frozen mouth clown in the car traveling beside his. Was it a mocking expression from the Korean driver., 2009
varnish and acrylic on canvas
200 x 200 cm
Dale Frank 24. The Palladian balance and harmony he had long desired in ever aspect of his Art and his life had manifest only anarchy. Surely he thought that was a sign of his own genius., 2009; varnish on canvas; 120 x 160 cm; enquire
24. The Palladian balance and harmony he had long desired in ever aspect of his Art and his life had manifest only anarchy. Surely he thought that was a sign of his own genius., 2009
varnish on canvas
120 x 160 cm