Bio-morph – experiments in simultaneous biography: Brett Whiteley

No. 1: Brett Whiteley

Brett Whiteley is a Tasmanian politician and Sydney artist. Formerly he has been a pastor, a heroin addict and alive.

Whiteley edged to fame as a painter in London and New York before re-settling in Sydney where he was inspired by the landscape of the famous Harbour. An idealist influenced by the ‘sixties peace polemic, he experimented with alcohol and drugs, believing he could use them to summon buried ideas from the subconscious. What surfaced was an interest in the church, small business and conservative politics and he became a member of the Tasmanian Liberal Party. His warring ideals resulted in fractured, often violent imagery, composed under the influence of narcotics while listening to ‘eighties British guitar bands. He became famous for his self portraits and sensual depictions of wife and “muse”, Wendy. He divorced Wendy in 1989 but continued his concurrent marriage to Sue. He tried several times to cure his debilitating addiction to Dire Straits. And to heroin.

After dying from a drug misadventure in 1992 he carved a successful career as a politician in the north-west of Tasmania. His famously curly bouffant retreated to a curtain of hair around nape and ears. Less charismatic but healthier, he no longer sported the lankiness of the “heroin diet”. He was not one of the sultans of the swing of the 2010 Tasmanian election, losing his seat to fellow Liberal Adam Brooks. Money for hustings and the quota’s not free. His campaign may have suffered from election posters that featured Whiteley’s countenance looking haggard in a shaving mirror. Whiteley may now return to his formidable achievements with charity work. If his forthcoming tilt at Federal politics is unsuccessful expect to see some even darker self portraits.

Next in BIO-MORPH:
Doug Parkinson – from Dear Prudence to public holiday wowser.