Brisk 2016 Aaqus innovation 92 x 107 cm

I was walking by the Derwent River estuary, some kilometres northwest of Nantasenhai, on a very windy day. I passed a field on the coast where two very large blue-grey Eucalypts were blowing and rattling in the stong winds. These large trees were an uncommon species because they had round mature leaves, rather than the usual slender mature leaves. These masses of blue-grey, round discs rattled like instruments a percussion band. The mass "leaf percussion" was louder than the high winds.

Looking past these trees, the Derwent River was cresting white caps in the southerly gusts that roared over the water from Nantasenhai and Storm Bay.

Other greener trees and yellow-blossomed trees dotted the field and shook in the wind. A rain front was rolling up from the south. Besides the suprising rattling discs, the two great Eucalypts were a rare sight because their massive tree shapes were rounded like lollypops, rather than tall and gangly.

The whole atmosphere was one of "vigorous, healthy air and water", rather than "storm" or "gale" so I decided to call the day Brisk.

Batik techniques were used to paint the grey leaves, estuary and the frame. The crests were block printed, while the horizon, the water, green leaves, and the blossoms were delivered as expressionist brush strokes.

The calligraphic ink-poem in the bottom right corner says "Pure new sea leaves" which can be read as "Refreshing ocean leaves". Moreover, the last character "leaf" also has a very different reading: "harmony" or harmonics. So another interpretation of the poem is Refreshing ocean and leafy harmonics.

Ever so Brisk.

Purchase or other inquiries