Summary

This acrylic brooch, with gilt background and slashes of red enamel paint, is challenging in appearance and evocative in style of the punk era of the 1970s and 80s. Tasmania is conveniently attached with a silver ring. It is typical of the creative work by this Victorian man who was taken too soon. According to the Art Gallery of South Australia, which have a similar example, it is known as Blue Poles Australia; a reference to the painting by Jackson Pollock at The National Gallery of Australia.

Peter Tully was born Peter Graig Tutungi in Carlton on 17th December 1947. At the age of five his family moved to Lorne. Of Arabic/Egyptian origin, the family anglicised its name to Tully. He moved back to Melbourne at age 16, then, after various jobs, spent time overseas before returning and joining Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson at their'Flamingo Park' store in the Strand Arcade in Sydney, designing clothes and jewellery for the store. In 1977, he held a one-man exhibition,at Paraphethana Gallery in Sydney, showcasing his Australiana themed jewellery

Tully was the most influential designer for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in his time. He was the Artistic Director from 1982-1986.

He died in Paris in August 1992 from an AIDS related illness, at only 45 years of age.

His jewellery can be found in the Powerhouse, Art Gallery of South Australia, National Gallery of Australia and National Gallery of Victoria.

Physical Description

Gold acrylic sheet cut in the shape of Australia, with Tasmania attached via a single link, the obverse has splashes of red paint applied. Metal clasp pin glued to reverse.

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