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'The Highway is a Disco' is the largest exhibition of Del Kathryn Barton's multi-form practice to date, comprising 150 pieces including a 10-metre long painting, film, textiles, collage and at the foot of your love (2017), a sculptural tribute to her late mother, who she says was 'an innate part of the fabric of my universe'. It's not a surprising sentiment from the artist who fuses totality and the minutiae of personal story in her portrayal of women, self and nature. Her compositions suggest a plane of perception that is in between here and there, human and animal, life and death. The artist shared 'In many ways I can't explain my compulsion to endlessly return to these big elemental beats... Learning to more astutely edit through the noise and toxicity of a lot of contemporary living has been a life-preserving necessity.'

Barton has won the Archibald Prize twice since 2008 and in that time has arguably held the mantle as one of Australia's most admired artists. Her style is warped. The rainbow and psychic force that permeates each work is consciously flamboyant but also signals abandon. Many of Barton's compositions pulsate from a centre point as a mandala would, with a woman at the core radiating colour and shapes which grow like the wet diffusion of a watercolour or a blossoming flower. In of pink planets (2014) and openly song (2014), contemporaneous cues embolden the female forms, like a portrait or icon from centuries past. Core motifs such as spider web, petals, feathers and confetti dots entice and threaten to entrap. Her erogenous symbols are not limited to a wellspring of nipples and orifices, both circular and almond shaped that seem to suck and expel, but extends to wide eyes. These eyes, to which you might ascribe a spiritual meaning, draw our attention to the gaze of the subject and our own compulsion to look. So, is art of this fecund-kind indicative of 'letting go' or bringing Barton closer to something? 'This is an interesting and beautiful question,' she said. 'I often speak of dichotomous and contradictory energies in describing the disciplines within my creative life. So, within this framework I would have to say that so often, in the act of making, I am almost always attempting to 'let go' in order to be closer and more present to the possibilities in the work. In essence, what I am trying to say is that my creative practice demands total commitment to unknowable outcomes. This daily journey is electrifying, exhausting, scary and full of risk.'

Barton maintains a childlike curiosity while exploring adult themes. Absurd and delightful fantasy carries through her work; in the painting sing blood-wings sing (2017) she reimagines the 1963 coming of age song 'Puff the Magic Dragon' with female characters. In RED (2016), Cate Blanchett plays a mother, re-enacting the redback spider's deadly mating ritual. In both instances Barton puts the strength and complexity of women at the fore. And, while some may see this articulation of identity as an essentialist view of gender, it doesn't peacock as definitive. Barton shared, 'It has always been very important to me to personally own the narrative in my work as erupting from my experience of inhabiting a woman's body. These narratives are my offerings as a woman, sometimes autobiographical, sometimes not, but always inspired by my lived, felt, dreamed, lost experiences. I feel strongly about 'the sisterhood' and celebrate the belief that every woman's journey in her body is uniquely hers.'

Indeed, the artist presents women as porous, changeable and self-determined. The openings that echo genitalia go beyond titillation. As plants spring up and thrive from these cavities we are reminded about life cycles and the poetry of womanhood - one that can be miraculous, deadly and inert.

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Del Kathryn Barton: The Highway is a Disco - Art Almanac

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'The Highway is a Disco' is the largest exhibition of Del Kathryn Barton's multi-form practice to date, comprising 150 pieces including a 10-metre long painting, film, textiles, collage and at the foot of your love (2017), a sculptural tribute to her late mother, who she says was 'an innate part of the fabric of my universe'.

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The artwork could have been produced using various differnt paints and techniques. The background appears to be layered due to the way the different shades of darker and lighter green are portrayed. The use of line helps the background appear layered as the curvy lines show as type of movement of the background. The triangle pyrimd structure of the individuals in the artwork show a sense of support, solid structure. Looking at the artwork the second females face is the focal point as the individuals head is facing straight forward, and the shapes of her eyes are different to the other individuals in the artwork, as well as them being a bit larger than the other figures eyes. The colours that are used in the image are deep shades of green suggesting growth, and the structure of the females in the artwork resemble a family, the growth of a mothers children 

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I see a colourful women. The colours are a mustard yellow, sky blue that blend together to make a background. The blue colour blends out to make a purple colour throughout the face and neck. The yellow in the hair has shades of a bright orange streaked through.
The elements shown in the artwork is colour. The colours shown are bright, cool and harmonious. Another element shown is line, to create this artwork line would have been used to draw out the shape of the head, neck and facial features. Shape is shown throughout tone

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" Was very light, may I be very light"
Del Katheryn Barton
Elements & Principles
-Bright colours, light, softness, balance, harmonized colours as well as contrasting colours, abstract body, lines, smooth texture, form, body, repetition.

This Artwork piece is a light colored painting of a women. Her background and surroundings are very bright. Her facial features are very proportionated. its very appealing towards the eye due to its positive feeling. The shape of the water colored tones in her body create an abstract look. The background is merged by blue and yellow swerved together. There are bright colored balls are surrounding her environment which allows this painting to appear fun. Her skin is white mixed with different colours to bring out her dynamic features. There are thin lines that define her body and face which have Sharpe edges for definition. Tone has been represented throughout this whole painting,  tone is used with contrasting colours but harmonize due to the light softness of the colours. The repetition of smooth pattern and colors create a balance in the work. Yellow is the outstanding color because of its strong tones and visual color. The focal point of the painting is the women's eyes as they are the darkest feature which allows them to standout against  the bright foreground and body. The background has rough smooth texture against the skin which is plain and  frail. These light colours express a positive feeling, its very vibrant and different. Its colours represent life through the eyes of a child. There are colorful balls and swirls that define a sweet taste towards the artwork. Its visually pleasing to the young as it displays the young imagination of a child through colours and happiness. The face shows a negative look but the colours allow it to embrace a sense of happiness. The artist was successful in applying a young innocent look towards this artwork. There is a positive and child like trance in this work. The colours are very bright and dynamic but they balance out when combined together. the meaning of happiness has been expressed with all the beautifully applied tones and textures. it is a visually pleasing artwork and demonstrates light and serenity.

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"You are what is most beautiful about me.
A self portrait with Kell and Arella."

date:2008.
The materials could of been water color, oil paints and maybe even normal grey lead pencils and colored pencils.
what is seen is three "people" from what can be seen is a woman, a middle aged child (10 years or age) and a child (5-6 years of age) there is dark colors shown in the background to give off a strange vibe. the structure of the artwork and how the people are positioned is in the shape of a pyramid. overlapping one another as they get from smaller, to bigger. the background makes their pale skin stand out. color is used in the artwork. the shapes of the faces are unusual and keeps the viewer interested. the space around the figures makes the figures look smaller and gives more detail to the artwork. the texture is smooth on the figures and is slightly less smooth in the back ground. the shape is organic, the flow of the bodies are also organic shapes. the pyramid like structure is the focal point of the artwork and catches the eyes of many. contrast is shown in the background as it makes the artwork look like it has depth and the contrast in the background makes the figures of the family stand out. the dark colors makes the space look deep and lost. special techniques such as enlarging the head and eyes adds uniqueness to the artist.
the interpretation that I have gotten was mainly from the looks that are given from the three figures are stern and rather angry. the way they are positioned and the way the hands are reminds me of the Hindu goddess Kali. Kali is the Hindu Goddess who removes the ego and liberates the soul from the cycle of birth and death. She also represents Time, Change, Power, Creation, Preservation, and Destruction. which almost all emotions are found in many families throughout their lifetime of living together. it also explains the stern look on all of their faces. the way the children are positioned below her shows that she is trying to protect them. this artwork was made in 2003

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Tenee - "Was very light, may I be very light"

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Tenee - "Was very light, may I be very light"

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A seemingly male figure, standing at an angle towards the front, taking up most of the work. Short blonde/yellow hair with the part facing the viewer. His defined, angular jawline and short hair alludes to the more masculine figure. His skin is pale white, with slight washes of pinks/purples and blues. His hair contrasts brightly with his skin. The background is yellow similar to the hair at the bottom, which balances the work out. The top of the work is a pale blue, which matches slightly with the purple/blue skin at the bottom of the work. His eyes are a bright green, the only colour that is not seen elsewhere in the work. One eye, the closest to the front stares piercingly at the viewer, whilst the one furthest away is cloudy and blind. It does not have a pupil or iris which immediately insinuates blindness. The lines and contours of the work defines the face and chest, indicating muscle and definition, again a masculine trait. The similarities in colour between the figure and the background creates little space between the two, the background seems to envelope the figure and threaten to cover it.  The splodgy dots seem to float around the face and head in colours of blue, red and sometimes white.
The subject matter is a portrait of a man with feminine characteristics. It is done on a portrait shaped canvas. The artwork seems to make a statement about gender roles, as although the featuring figure appears male, they have feminine characteristics and does not seem to confine themselves to one gender. The lines and texture of the background seems to give the look of pushing against the figure, instead of working with it. It seems as if it is a fight for the figure, so this could possible be an attempt to convey the struggle he is fighting against.

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Ashleigh
you are what is most beautiful about me, Del Kathryn Barton.

The artwork done by Del Kathryn Barton, as a women with two young kids on her lap. Like a pyramid showing the family tree and the age order of the family. Showing a self portrait of her and her children. None of them have a happy look face, they all look better blank.
Throughout the artwork there is lots of colour, line and shape. It has lots of different hues of green through out, helping to show grass in the background. Most of the colours around them are dark, contrasting with the light, pale hues of their skin. There are also lots of shapes, showing flowers and leaves throughout the artwork, being all around them and on them. There are also lots of shapes in their patterned clothes. With lots of circles and triangles throughout the portrait. there is line throughout the artwork, showing the movement of the grass and of the bodies. Also in the hair there is line showing the flow of direction. Space is also seen in the artwork. They are taking up space, as well as there being negative space around and between her and her children

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Was very light, may i be very light, Del Kathryn Barton, 2014.
There are a range of colours sorrounding the shape of a femine character in the foreground of the artwork, she takes up the majority of the composition. The figure is slightly off centre, to the right of the artwork, the body is twisted but she is facing the audience, almost as if making eye contact.

The most dominant colour used throughout the artwork is yellow with blue also seen. Yellow has been used to sorround the bottom area of the figure, and is also the colour used for the hair on the figure. The blue is used to sorround the top of the figure, to represent the sky, it is also used within the figure. organic shapes have been used to help define  the face and body. The eye is drawn to the jaw line of the figure, this is due to the heaviness of the line and where is has been placed in the artwork. The circular shapes within the painting create a sense of pattern. The lack of colour within figure creates a sense of space between the back and figure ground.

The colours in the artwork aswell as the name "was very light, may i be very light" creates the sense of sadness overtaking happiness. The yellow within the artwork represents the figure attempting to be happy and the blue represents the sadness over taking.

This artwork is particulary successful because the colours aswell as the use of lines clearly expresses what the artist was thinking at the time of making the artwork.

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Shari- 'You are what is most beautiful about me, a self portrait with Kell and Arella' Del Kathryn Barton. The portrait won the Archibald P

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Shari- 'You are what is most beautiful about me, a self portrait with Kell and Arella' Del Kathryn Barton. The portrait won the Archibald P

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Three females, that are almost in a line, one after the other. Water type leaves are in the bush type layered background. Patterns in the clothing of the individuals in the artwork. The background is leafy looking, and the artwork appears to be placed outside, or near a bushy area perhaps.
Various different shades of green can be seen in the artwork. The subjects are structured in a triangle (prymid) type formation. Line can be seen throughout the artwork, as well as shape; showed by the heads and other limbs of the individuals in the work.
The artwork could have been produced using various differnt paints and techniques. The background appears to be layered due to the way the different shades of darker and lighter green are portrayed. The use of line helps the background appear layered as the curvy lines show as type of movement of the background. The triangle pyrimd structure of the individuals in the artwork show a sense of support, solid structure. Looking at the artwork the second females face is the focal point as the individuals head is facing straight forward, and the shapes of her eyes are different to the other individuals in the artwork, as well as them being a bit larger than the other figures eyes. The colours that are used in the image are deep shades of green suggesting growth, and the structure of the females in the artwork resemble a family, the growth of a mothers children into independent, grown women. The background also suggest that the females are uniting with the environment, and their inner selves as the green colours, layered background, rough grassy texture, and the pale leaves in the background suggest the environment.
I don't particularly like the colours of the artwork as they are very dark and dull, I personally would have preferred brighter, more vivid colours. The way the body parts of the figures in the artwork are very strange and their gaze is unsettling, but the bright colours of the eyes grabbed my attention when I looked at the fine detail in the artwork, especially in the facial expressions of the figures. The artowrk is very interesting, and would have been incredibly successful as the artwork would appeal to various different individuals through the use of the colour, line, and the different possible meaning of the artwork.

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'You are what is most beautiful about me, a self portrait with Kell and Arella' Del Kathryn Barton. The portrait won the Archibald Prize in 2008.

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was very light, may i be very light, 2014
acrylic on linen
83.5 × 68cm