RIP Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read

Rest in Peace Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read.

Source: http://workbyknight.deviantart.com/art/Mark-Chopper-Read-253856586 


Notorious Melbourne crime figure turned author Mark Brandon Read has died after a long battle with liver cancer aged 58.

Read died at the Royal Melbourne Hospital on Wednesday afternoon "after a long and courageous battle with liver cancer", his manager Andrew Parisi said. "I am deeply saddened to confirm the death of Mark Brandon Read, known widely throughout Australia and the world as 'Chopper'. Mark passed away today at the Royal Melbourne Hospital after a long and courageous battle with liver cancer."

Read made his last public appearance in front of a sold-out audience at Melbourne's Athenaeum Theatre a fortnight ago.

"Despite his failing health, he delighted the audience with his skills as a raconteur and storyteller," Mr Parisi said.
Chopper Read has terminal cancer and this week was admitted to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

"This is how he would wish to be remembered, as someone who spun a great yarn and made many people laugh."

Read's death was a tragic loss for his wife, Margaret, and his sons, Roy and Charlie.

"For more than fifteen years, Mark has lived a quiet life with Margaret in Collingwood. He worked as a writer, painter and public speaker, paid his taxes and took care of his family.

"At the time of his death, we ask that people reflect on how Mark was able to overcome his past and, after more than 23 years in prison, find a way to re-enter "normal" society.

"It is as a husband, father and friend that Mark will be missed most deeply."

Chopper Art in the News - Yahoo!7

Killer art: Chopper Read's 'Avant-garde' collection

Yahoo!7 October 12, 2011, 5:05 pm

http://au.news.yahoo.com/local/vic/full-coverage/carl-williams/a/-/article/10454381/killer-art-chopper-read-s-avant-garde-collection/ 

Celebrity underworld figure Mark Chopper Read's new career as an artist has taken a new twist.
His paintings are not to everyone's taste, and neither is the venue chosen to put on his latest exhibition.
His new 'post-modernist' collection is being exhibited in one of Melbourne's oldest brothels, and one with a history involving Mark himself.
"Me and mad Charlie robbed this place back when it was a double-storey house in 1973," he told 7News.
The convicted murderer says he's now a changed man, his art inspired by Archibald prize winner, Adam Cullen.
But he still isn't sure what the artist meant when calling the work Avant-garde.
"He said 'you'd be the only artist in Australia that's got his pieces hanging in a licensed brothel'.....'yes', he said, 'it would be Avant-garde'," Mark said.

Chopper's painting The Banker, The Bully and The Boss is the most expensive piece in the exhibition, going for $4,000.
Also featured, The Painting, Flowers for Alphonse Gangitano, and another called Flowers for Carl Williams, both murdered underworld figures involved in Chopper's past.
"I didn't send any flowers to their funeral, so I thought I'd do a painting," he said.
Venue owner Nathan Pooley told 7News: "His history, which has totally been ingrained in our culture...I think that's what increases the price."
A percentage of all sales will go to charity.

Chopper Art in the News - Herald Sun

Chopper Read's on the canvas

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/chopper-reads-on-the-canvas/story-e6frf7kx-1226023547778

Tom McIlroy

March 18, 2011

Paintings by Chopper Read on display in a new exhibition.

ALREADY an infamous crime figure and best-selling author, Mark "Chopper" Read is adding celebrated artist to his many accolades.

Invoking the biggest names of Australian crime, 22 of Read's original paintings are displayed in a new exhibition that opened last night. Read said the collection, showing at The Hogan Gallery in Collingwood, was inspired by his life of crime.

"I've been interested in painting for a few years, and I thought I should give it a go," he said. "They all have colourful characters in them."

Art lovers can snap up one of the brightly coloured originals, each signed "CHOPPER", for as little as $900. The most expensive work is priced at $3200.

Read said the value of the works would increase dramatically after his death.

"They'll be a bloody good investment for lucky punters in years to come," he said.

The controversial collection features bushranger Ned Kelly and one work called Flowers for Alphonse, inspired by slain underworld figure Alphonse Gangitano. "I planted flowers for Alphonse and I thought they'd be a good painting so I got brushes and acrylic paint and went for it," he said.

Collectors better act quickly - three of the works were snapped up by an unnamed buyer before the exhibition opened.

The exhibition runs until March 31.

"Ned's First Day At Work"

The Artist with "Ned's First Day At Work"

This piece is another in the Ned Kelly series titled "Ned's First Day At Work. Ned's First Bank Job - 8 Thousand Pounds Over The Counter. Thank You Very Much Sir". The canvas is approximately 920mm x 600mm and carries the title of the piece and the artist's signature on the back. You can tell an original Chopper by the signature - Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read - handwritten on the back. 

Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read signed on the back

The painting is also signed on the front, bottom right corner, vertical lettering (bottom up) - "CHOPPER" - always in capitals!

Signed "CHOPPER"

This art work depicts Ned's first real success as an outlaw - "8 thousand pounds over the counter. Thank you very much sir". This piece is a rare full-body depiction of Ned Kelly - unlike many other Chopper paintings which are usually depictions from the waist up. It's also rare in the depiction of Ned holding a rifle. The rarity of this painting was reflected in the high price that I paid for it. It's my personal favourite Chopper.

Motivational from Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read

"I'm just a bloody normal bloke. A normal bloke who likes a little bit of torture" - Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read.