Last year I visited Japan in order to learn more about Japanese textiles. As part of that exploration I undertook a short course in indigo dyeing.
Since then I have been painting towards a solo exhibition at Handmark Gallery in Hobart this coming January. Indigo has been the base colour for nearly every canvas. After a few attempts at variation, I just had to accept indigo as the force majeure in this body of work.
Once, when I was living in the Northern Territory, I swam in the Katherine Gorge late at night. The land was still warm with the heat of the day, but the water was cool. The surface of the pool reflected the stars and the night sky; it rippled like satin as I moved through it.
That’s what it has felt like to paint these works in indigo.
Sashiko 3 (detail)
what a beautiful image
I too have been to Katherine gorge this year and Kakadu so your imagery particularly resonates with my experience swimming in different waterholes beneath vertical rock outcrops and cliffs plunging deep into the black water out of sight of the sun.
Such a great experience in such an extraordinary part of the country…
This work looks sensational Faridah. Strangely, as opened it up the first image I got was the negative space so I saw a strong castle with a curvy sky… I look forward to seeing it in the flesh. Bravo and congratulations. Love to you both.
Thank you John – what a lovely response! Missed you at Trentham!