Mark Brandon “Chopper” Read. It’s a name most Australians over the age of 20 will be familiar with. A name that brings fear, loathing, laughter and pride all at the same time. Chopper, as we will respectfully refer to him from this point, was recently diagnosed with liver cancer. In his traditional style, Chopper took the news with an air of knowing and an absolute acceptance of his plot, “there’s no way out of it” were his words. Interestingly, for the first time, he also began to utter words that would suggest a regret for a life lived in crime, “I wouldn’t have done so much stupidity as to end up doing so much jail,” and for the pain he’s caused those he loves, “I’ll say sorry to Margaret for putting her through a nightmare of a life.”
Whether he dies in 6 weeks or 6 months, one thing’s for sure. Chopper will be remembered for years to come. Not just for his crimes, but for the impact his story has had on the Australian people. In a phenomenon seemingly unique to Australian shores, Chopper will become a hero. A legend of Australian history. He will join other criminal figures such as the Jolly Swag-man and Ned Kelly, to be recognized the world over as a colourful part of Australian myth, history, and legend.
But, as with the Jolly Swag-man and Ned Kelly, there are many other sides to Mark Brandon “Chopper” Read. Yes, he’s been the subject of his own, very well received feature film starring Eric Bana, but he’s also penned 5 novels and two adults only fairytales, Hooky the Cripple, and The Adventures of Rumsley Rumsfelt. He’s attempted comedy and has always had a regular columnist and radio guest, spouted his views on politic and anything else reporters are game to ask. Read has described his political beliefs as “to the right of Genghis Khan”. He’s a man who’s happy to say what he thinks and let others work out if they want to hear it. It would seem that he takes the same position when it comes to his art.
Read’s first exhibition of 45 works in Fitzroy was a sell-out on the first night. One reporter described Chopper as a “visual artist whose interest in the arts was sparked by a friendship with the 2000 Archibald prize winner Adam Cullen”. Interestingly, Chopper doesn’t seem to agree. He doesn’t claim to be an outstanding artist and understands that his paintings sell because of his notorious underworld profile. Even his inspiration, Cullen, has a very real view of Chopper’s work, describing it as “post-modernist, neo-surrealist rubbish, but it looks good hanging on the wall.”
Chopper’s work has now been shown across the country. Most recently, 50 of his pieces were exhibited in Redcliffe in an attempt to bring residents back to the CBD. The show, titled Black and White was a huge success. A follow-up Sydney exhibition with 28 works also sold out on the opening night. Further exhibitions in Perth and Melbourne had the similar results.
Whether you credit Chopper’s work with artistic merit or not, it is sure to trigger discussion. And the exploration of how, and why, such a man came to put pencil to paper, paint to canvas is probably enough to justify purchase. But at what price? Only the market will tell.
You can check out some of Chopper’s work on artFido.com by clicking here.
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