The Golden Void speaks to me Print

This work was inspired by rainfall in a forest. Ancient trees have often appeared in or influenced my work including a series I made in New Zealand about the Kauri forests of the North Island’s upper West Coast, particularly Waipoua Forest. Abstracted forms inspired by the ancient oaks of Charnwood Forest in Leicestershire also appear frequently in my work. And I made work about the Sequoia trees when I spent time in California in 2010. I’m also fascinated by the play of light through mist. I wanted to capture these light effects and the mood of a misty morning walk in a forest. Another inspiration for this piece was Darren Aronofsky’s film The Fountain which has a recurring ‘Tree of Life’ theme and a beautiful golden colour palette. The title comes from a song by Hawkwind called The Golden Void. I’ve never heard the band explain exactly what they meant by it but to me it seems to touch on Buddhist themes of impermanence and of a kind of dissolving into the flowing energy of the universe. Oil paint is applied in many thin glazes over a wooden panel. The glazes of oil paint create a translucent surface revealing subtle colour variations with prolonged viewing. There are some textured areas where dry brush work catches the raised areas. There are also calligraphic-like marks inspired by the flutter and flash of insects caught in misty morning light. These quick, intuitive marks also represent for me the flow of energy in the universe. My main artistic inspiration is the work of JMW Turner. Monet, Bosch, Chinese ink painting, Buddhist art are all influences. I also take ideas from Art Nouveau, Surrealism and fantasy art. Contemporary artists Chu Te Chun, Zao Wou-Ki, Chris Rivers, Ella Baudinet, Darren Waterston and Cruz Jimenez all inform my work. I hope the viewer feels a sense of peace and of the ancient mysteries of nature.