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Artist
Brett Whiteley
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Born
1939
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Died
1992
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Title
Remembering Laotse (Shaving off a second)
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Date of Production
1967
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Medium
pencil, pen and ink on paper
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Dimensions
66.4 x 56.2 cm
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Credit Details
Gift of Jerry Van Beek, 1968
Brett Whiteley
Remembering Laotse (Shaving off a second)
Trained at the Julian Ashton School Sydney, Whiteley furthered
his studies in Europe. He returned to Australia in 1961 but
subsequently traveled extensively in the United States and Asia.
From the mid 1960's many of Whiteley's portraits were explorations
of the psyche. Showing a fascination with the notion of alchemy and
the transmutation of substances, Whiteley's self portraits often
included heads that were fractured or appeared to be in the process
of being distorted into another self. This work is no
exception.
Considered by some to be the first philosopher of the Taoist
School, Laotse (old Master or teacher) is believed to be
responsible for a body of sayings that came to be known as Tao Te
Ching that are related to living the simple life and to becoming
one with nature and the universe. Whiteley's inclusion of the
following text gives us an insight into his personal aspirations at
the time the work was created:
Remembering Laotse …….
He is to be made to dwindle (in power)
Must first be caused to expand
He who is to be weakened
Must first be made strong
He who is paid to be low
Must first be exalted to power
He who is to be taken away from
Must first be given
This is the subtle light
Gentleness overcomes strength
Fish should be left in the deep pool
And sharp weapons of state should be left where none can see
them!!!