In 2013 the artist was on a semi-annual visit to the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra and was struck, not only by the magical elegance of Henri Matisse’s ‘Oceanie, La Mer’ screen-print of 1946, which is closely linked to his paper-cut-outs of the time but, also by the way the other artwork in the large gallery space were reflected in the glass that protected the white-shaped print on burlap. The artist worked on a sketch that included noting the labels for each of the reflected works and, eventually, painted a response to his encounter. This included a strong sense of the blueness of the work with its maritime, Mediterranean or, perhaps, Tahitian, themes, and yet, the work itself is off-white on a raw linen ground. Artists represented in reflection include: Jean Tinguely, Fernand Leger, Alexander Calder, Josef Albers, Fritz Glarner, Sophie Taueber-Arp, Roy de Maistre, Giorgio Morandi, and Marcel Breuer with his Long Chair. Matisse (who is also seen in reflection) is reported to have said: “What I dream of is an art of balance, of purity and serenity devoid of troubling or depressing subject matter - a soothing, calming influence on the mind, rather like a good armchair which provides relaxation from physical fatigue.”

Collection of the Artist.