Richard Larter
2005
Portraits from the late 50s and early 60s
'Untitled'
1961
synthetic polymer paint on board
58 x 48cm
When, in 1962, Richard and Pat Larter disembarked in Australia they
had with them three children and a selection of Richard's paintings.
Five years later they had their full family of five children and Richard
was well on his way to having completed 100 paintings since he arrived.
In 1974 Richard gave all his figurative paintings to Pat, he did this
formally, because he intended that they should eventually become her
'superannuation fund'. This act of foresight and generosity was thwarted
by Pat's early death in 1996.
The paintings in this exhibition have been selected from those that
arrived here in the ship's hold. They are very early examples of Richard
Larter's hypodermic syringe technique. It seems right that these paintings
- once the property of Pat Larter and never before exhibited - should
be shown at the same time as a Pat
Larter exhibition.
We think you will agree that in its own particular way the work of each
artist embodies a lively exuberance.
