Dale Frank paints without a brush to exploit the innate expressive potential of tinted varnish. Complex galaxies of colour bleed into each other revealing extraordinary macro and micro cosmoses. This process is highly scientific as different paint temperatures and time ratios effect the finished artwork.

Exhibition Dates: 2 May – 27 May 2006

Dale Frank paints without a brush to exploit the innate expressive potential of tinted varnish. Complex galaxies of colour bleed into each other revealing extraordinary macro and micro cosmoses. This process is highly scientific as different paint temperatures and time ratios effect the finished artwork.

“When asked how he acquired his fine collection of French Empire clocks, Paul Keating, then prime minister of Australia, described his method thus; ‘Most people catch antiques when they are tame, in fashionable shops. I catch my clocks while they are still wild, in out-of-the-way places.’”

Frank provides alluring corridors of viscous colour in varnish that accumulates and recedes. His layering technique is not a palimpsest of different instants in the work’s creation – the painting can not be infiltrated in this way, nor traversed as a representational, narrative painting can be. Rather, the layers of coloured paint present a number of simultaneous combustive reactions in which Frank lets the vivid but essentially non-figurative particularity of a moment in time and space be expressed.

“One room of the house was literally stuffed, literally, with Staffordshire pottery on shelving, cheek by jowl, floor to ceiling. There was no room to move; you bought the figures nearest to the door. The room seem untouched despite my best efforts to empty the place.”

The challenge of Frank’s painting is its abstraction from the moment in time that he wishes to relate. His coloured surfaces elicit a multitude of emotional and intellectual responses that we, as viewers, must resolve.

—Peta Bryant

Dale Frank has been showing with Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery since 1982. His career spans more than twenty 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 , 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. His paintings are held in every major public collection in and in numerous private and corporate collections in , Europe and the . In 2005 Frank won The Arthur Guy Memorial Painting Prize at the Bendigo Art Gallery, Victoria. A new monograph on Dale Frank is currently in production.

Hide Exhibition Text

Dale Frank I was sent off to find an 18th century diamond brooch, dressed in a donkey jacket and cement-dusted workman's boots. He understood the past, whereas today's brilliant butterflies who dine out talk only about the new and know only about the future of their art portfolio's pricing structure. Their lead shoes are very much in need in the light gravity-less atmosphere., 2005; varnish on canvas; 200 x 260 cm; enquire
I was sent off to find an 18th century diamond brooch, dressed in a donkey jacket and cement-dusted workman's boots. He understood the past, whereas today's brilliant butterflies who dine out talk only about the new and know only about the future of their art portfolio's pricing structure. Their lead shoes are very much in need in the light gravity-less atmosphere., 2005
varnish on canvas
200 x 260 cm
Dale Frank One conversation gambit you hear these days: 'Do you rotate?' An interesting change of tack? No suck luck. 'Do you rotate?' simply fishes for information about the extent of your collection. Do you have enough paintings to hang a different one in your dining room every month?, 2005; varnish on canvas; 200 x 260 cm; enquire
One conversation gambit you hear these days: 'Do you rotate?' An interesting change of tack? No suck luck. 'Do you rotate?' simply fishes for information about the extent of your collection. Do you have enough paintings to hang a different one in your dining room every month?, 2005
varnish on canvas
200 x 260 cm
Dale Frank In August, Martin Norton died: a giant among dealers, physically imposing and with an even larger personality, he exerted a powerful hold over those who came to his shop, SJ Phillips Gallery. As a man who outlived his generation, but whose style of dealing seemed timeless, his death can now be seen as part of a pattern., 2005; varnish on canvas; 200 x 260 cm; enquire
In August, Martin Norton died: a giant among dealers, physically imposing and with an even larger personality, he exerted a powerful hold over those who came to his shop, SJ Phillips Gallery. As a man who outlived his generation, but whose style of dealing seemed timeless, his death can now be seen as part of a pattern., 2005
varnish on canvas
200 x 260 cm
Dale Frank And what about Oklahoma City splattered Ken., 2006; varnish on canvas; 200 x 260 cm; enquire
And what about Oklahoma City splattered Ken., 2006
varnish on canvas
200 x 260 cm
Dale Frank Surely not, for little did he think little could come of it. The problem was little was the means method and outcome., 2006; varnish on canvas; 200 x 260 cm; enquire
Surely not, for little did he think little could come of it. The problem was little was the means method and outcome., 2006
varnish on canvas
200 x 260 cm
Dale Frank The sun set as she drove around and around the blackened zebra crossing., 2006; varnish on canvas; 200 x 260 cm; enquire
The sun set as she drove around and around the blackened zebra crossing., 2006
varnish on canvas
200 x 260 cm
Dale Frank He spoke with enthusiasm about having once visited the 110th observation floor., 2006; varnish on canvas; 200 x 260 cm; enquire
He spoke with enthusiasm about having once visited the 110th observation floor., 2006
varnish on canvas
200 x 260 cm
Dale Frank It seem remarkable to him that they could equate the two coming as they did from such different worlds, a giant Green Sea Turtle with wings., 2006; varnish on canvas; 200 x 260 cm; enquire
It seem remarkable to him that they could equate the two coming as they did from such different worlds, a giant Green Sea Turtle with wings., 2006
varnish on canvas
200 x 260 cm
Dale Frank Half sprawling falling across the front of the car her fingers pulling adjusting her ridding up Target knickers. Art is not a victimless crime she murmured glancing at her artist boyfriend., 2006; varnish on canvas; 200 x 260 cm; enquire
Half sprawling falling across the front of the car her fingers pulling adjusting her ridding up Target knickers. Art is not a victimless crime she murmured glancing at her artist boyfriend., 2006
varnish on canvas
200 x 260 cm
Dale Frank Look after all every painting is really just a small piece of theatre, in its crudest form, said Mr Pole Bean staring through his Polaroid's., 2006; varnish on canvas; 200 x 260 cm; enquire
Look after all every painting is really just a small piece of theatre, in its crudest form, said Mr Pole Bean staring through his Polaroid's., 2006
varnish on canvas
200 x 260 cm
Dale Frank Occasionally his dealer would take a breath from talking endlessly about her latest charitable cause. octal exultation lurch coquette baneful owly vitrify staphylococcus oboist inflammable Odessa pike. This Gallery must be full of vegetarian free range porkers he thought, as she reached over to take his spliffie., 2006; varnish on canvas; 200 x 260 cm; enquire
Occasionally his dealer would take a breath from talking endlessly about her latest charitable cause. octal exultation lurch coquette baneful owly vitrify staphylococcus oboist inflammable Odessa pike. This Gallery must be full of vegetarian free range porkers he thought, as she reached over to take his spliffie., 2006
varnish on canvas
200 x 260 cm
Dale Frank It's shocking she said, they never get it right. Why don't they just ask you he quipped glaring at her bone preying preying mantas fingers., 2006; varnish on canvas; 200 x 260 cm; enquire
It's shocking she said, they never get it right. Why don't they just ask you he quipped glaring at her bone preying preying mantas fingers., 2006
varnish on canvas
200 x 260 cm
Dale Frank It seemed that the happiness was of the most mundane kind., 2006; varnish on canvas; 200 x 200 cm; enquire
It seemed that the happiness was of the most mundane kind., 2006
varnish on canvas
200 x 200 cm
Dale Frank In the late 1950's, Plympton in Devon was certainly an out-of-the-way place for most people, but a point of pilgrimage for dealers. Above the town was a row of Victorian cottages called Borgia Villas. The family who lived there, called Andrade, were wholesalers, suppliers to the trade., 2005; varnish on canvas; 200 x 200 cm; enquire
In the late 1950's, Plympton in Devon was certainly an out-of-the-way place for most people, but a point of pilgrimage for dealers. Above the town was a row of Victorian cottages called Borgia Villas. The family who lived there, called Andrade, were wholesalers, suppliers to the trade., 2005
varnish on canvas
200 x 200 cm
Dale Frank When asked how he acquired his fine collection of French Empire clocks, Paul Keating, then prime minister of Australia, described his method thus; 'Most people catch antiques when they are tame, in fashionable shops. I catch my clocks while they are still wild, in out-of-the-way places.', 2005; varnish on canvas; 200 x 200 cm; enquire
When asked how he acquired his fine collection of French Empire clocks, Paul Keating, then prime minister of Australia, described his method thus; 'Most people catch antiques when they are tame, in fashionable shops. I catch my clocks while they are still wild, in out-of-the-way places.', 2005
varnish on canvas
200 x 200 cm
Dale Frank The third floor apartment was all snow white off white while the fifth floor apartment was nothing but matt black. Pity the grey middle man everyone's whipping boy he thought., 2006; varnish on canvas; 200 x 200 cm; enquire
The third floor apartment was all snow white off white while the fifth floor apartment was nothing but matt black. Pity the grey middle man everyone's whipping boy he thought., 2006
varnish on canvas
200 x 200 cm
Dale Frank He garaged his new Range Rover as the ABC was due the next day to interview him on what it was like being an artist today even though Sue thought he should park it in the front drive., 2006; varnish on canvas; 200 x 200 cm; enquire
He garaged his new Range Rover as the ABC was due the next day to interview him on what it was like being an artist today even though Sue thought he should park it in the front drive., 2006
varnish on canvas
200 x 200 cm
Dale Frank The row of dilapidated terraces had the same air as the row of warehouse conversions in the next suburb. Both filled with artist's aching articulation. There's nothing wrong with a bit of a chinwag., 2006; varnish on canvas; 200 x 200 cm; enquire
The row of dilapidated terraces had the same air as the row of warehouse conversions in the next suburb. Both filled with artist's aching articulation. There's nothing wrong with a bit of a chinwag., 2006
varnish on canvas
200 x 200 cm
Dale Frank One room of the house was literally stuffed, literally, with Staffordshire pottery on shelving, cheek by jowl, floor to ceiling. There was no room to move; you bought the figures nearest to the door. The room seem untouched despite my best efforts to empty the place., 2005; varnish on canvas; 200 x 200 cm; enquire
One room of the house was literally stuffed, literally, with Staffordshire pottery on shelving, cheek by jowl, floor to ceiling. There was no room to move; you bought the figures nearest to the door. The room seem untouched despite my best efforts to empty the place., 2005
varnish on canvas
200 x 200 cm
Dale Frank John and Mathew both instinctually regretted not having pushed the issue further. She had them over a barrel dealing what she dealt hiding her own regret in them., 2006; varnish on canvas; 200 x 200 cm; enquire
John and Mathew both instinctually regretted not having pushed the issue further. She had them over a barrel dealing what she dealt hiding her own regret in them., 2006
varnish on canvas
200 x 200 cm
Dale Frank The paint dried dismissively beyond saving while he caught the end of that telemovie that he always never managed to see the beginning of., 2006; varnish on canvas; 200 x 200 cm; enquire
The paint dried dismissively beyond saving while he caught the end of that telemovie that he always never managed to see the beginning of., 2006
varnish on canvas
200 x 200 cm
Dale Frank The critic loved and praised his work. He praised and loved the critic. It was indeed his time and his best work, his lips never passed a lie, but much more., 2006; varnish on canvas; 200 x 200 cm; enquire
The critic loved and praised his work. He praised and loved the critic. It was indeed his time and his best work, his lips never passed a lie, but much more., 2006
varnish on canvas
200 x 200 cm
Dale Frank Her small hairless Chihuahua 'Chigoes' constantly shivered even in the peak of summer. Why don't you get that damn dog a jacket, said a recent artist to her stable., 2006; varnish on canvas; 200 x 200 cm; enquire
Her small hairless Chihuahua 'Chigoes' constantly shivered even in the peak of summer. Why don't you get that damn dog a jacket, said a recent artist to her stable., 2006
varnish on canvas
200 x 200 cm
Dale Frank The city was never like this when he was at College he found himself thinking., 2006; varnish on canvas; 200 x 200 cm; enquire
The city was never like this when he was at College he found himself thinking., 2006
varnish on canvas
200 x 200 cm
Dale Frank Ken's mind wondered to Vincent's angina., 2006; varnish on canvas; 160 x 120 cm; enquire
Ken's mind wondered to Vincent's angina., 2006
varnish on canvas
160 x 120 cm
Dale Frank The fix paid for the exhaustive pretension of style, and the art paid for the fix., 2006; varnish on canvas; 160 x 120 cm; enquire
The fix paid for the exhaustive pretension of style, and the art paid for the fix., 2006
varnish on canvas
160 x 120 cm
Dale Frank She was an artist of prodigy and prodigious output while her dealer was one for producing labored protestations. It was a perfect match., 2006; varnish on canvas; 160 x 120 cm; enquire
She was an artist of prodigy and prodigious output while her dealer was one for producing labored protestations. It was a perfect match., 2006
varnish on canvas
160 x 120 cm
Dale Frank So you're saying if I take drugs you won't give me a lecture. You just have to keep away from death threats his step mother replied., 2006; varnish on canvas; 160 x 120 cm; enquire
So you're saying if I take drugs you won't give me a lecture. You just have to keep away from death threats his step mother replied., 2006
varnish on canvas
160 x 120 cm
Dale Frank He wondered what the world would be like if the Jews had really been Chinese., 2006; varnish on canvas; 160 x 120 cm; enquire
He wondered what the world would be like if the Jews had really been Chinese., 2006
varnish on canvas
160 x 120 cm
Dale Frank Then Brian, the whinging Pom, pointed out that there really was a duck called the Whinny Whistling Duck with the wherewithal which cleared up any doubts., 2006; varnish on canvas; 160 x 120 cm; enquire
Then Brian, the whinging Pom, pointed out that there really was a duck called the Whinny Whistling Duck with the wherewithal which cleared up any doubts., 2006
varnish on canvas
160 x 120 cm
Dale Frank The villainy of the Paraguayans could not be underestimated, he heard her say, they are owning most of the shops in Double Bay now., 2006; varnish on canvas; 160 x 120 cm; enquire
The villainy of the Paraguayans could not be underestimated, he heard her say, they are owning most of the shops in Double Bay now., 2006
varnish on canvas
160 x 120 cm
Dale Frank The front door was permanently closed while the key to the side was always in the terracotta pipe. She took a different artist back after each opening, never a repeat., 2006; varnish on canvas; 160 x 120 cm; enquire
The front door was permanently closed while the key to the side was always in the terracotta pipe. She took a different artist back after each opening, never a repeat., 2006
varnish on canvas
160 x 120 cm
Dale Frank His temperament was one of over feed misery while his obesity was nothing more than a loaded pistol lingering for a nervous twitch of the finger., 2006; varnish on canvas; 160 x 120 cm; enquire
His temperament was one of over feed misery while his obesity was nothing more than a loaded pistol lingering for a nervous twitch of the finger., 2006
varnish on canvas
160 x 120 cm