The Whiteley phenomenon – why a painter has impacted theatre, opera and film
Brett Whiteley is no longer exclusive to the visual arts, but has become part of Australian mythology. ArtsHub speaks with those involved in creating this landscape of memory, to ask: why now?
He died of a heroin overdose in a somewhat mediocre coastal motel, and yet his legacy thrives: on the walls of great art museums across Australia and beyond. More than just an artist, Brett Whiteley has become a legend.
Gina Fairley is ArtsHub's Senior Contributor, after 12 years in the role as National Visual Arts Editor. She has worked for extended periods in America and Southeast Asia, as gallerist, arts administrator and regional contributing editor for a number of magazines, including Hong Kong based Asian Art News and World Sculpture News. She is an Art Tour leader for the AGNSW Members, and lectures regularly on the state of the arts. She is based in Mittagong, regional NSW.
Instagram: fairleygina
