Ken Whisson book launch at the Art Gallery of New South Wales

Last Wednesday night more than 40 people joined us for the Sydney launch of Quentin Sprague’s Ken Whisson: Painting and Drawing, at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. The Edmund and Joanna Capon Research Library, which encompasses the National Art Archive and the Ashley Dawson-Damer Children’s Art Library, houses Ken Whisson’s archive, making it the ideal location for the launch of this magnificent monograph. AGNSW Senior Curator of Australian Art, Denise Mimmocchi gave an in-depth reflection on the book, woven around the key works by Whisson held in the AGNSW’s permanent collection which had informed her curatorial practice. Mimmocchi identified the monograph as a landmark, a beacon to inspire similar publications, whose depth of visual content and literary insight will reposition Australian artists on par with their international counterparts.

A book such as Ken Whisson: Painting and Drawing would be impossible to produce without a raft of supporters and contributors. Tony Oates expressed particular thanks for the major anonymous donation that made a project of this scope possible. He praised, among others, the design team, Small Tasks, and the collectors of Ken’s work who understood his vision, appreciated his practice and supported his endeavour – many of them opened their homes to author Quentin Sprague in support of the publication.

Oates finished his introduction with a tribute the artist: “Ken Whisson: Painting and Drawing truly acknowledges Ken’s contribution in a most magnificent fashion, a tribute that is as yet only available to a small handful of Australian artists. Our only regret is that Ken couldn’t share in the successes of the project with us. His gift of participation however has enriched the book immensely. With his support this work signals a new beginning for Drill Hall Gallery Publications, one that will encompass a suite of new titles over the coming years and we will be most excited to share these with you in the future.”

Ken Whisson: Painting and Drawing, by Quentin Sprague is available for sale through the Drill Hall Gallery and is also distributed to major galleries and bookstores by Miegunyah Press.