My recent work has been inspired by travels to various sites containing the ruins of ancient civilisations. My visits to the ancient Greek city on the island of Delos, in Greece, the Mayan Temples of the Yucatan in Mexico and to Empuries in Catalonia, Spain, have inspired my work and concepts. These sites are still in the process of being recovered and many fascinating artefacts continue to be unearthed. However, the exact function of many of these handmade objects remains unknown. It often seems that we know more about the surface of the moon than we do about some of these mysterious relics and the people who made them.
I was fortunate to visit the 'Josef Albers in Mexico' Exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum last year. Albers’ compelling works, many of which were influenced by the then-recently discovered Mayan Temples, are a testament to his sense of adventure by travelling into the unknown and to his fascination with the remains of an ancient civilisation. The hand-built Mayan Temples, often great in size and partially buried in the tangle of prehistoric jungle, are made up of thousands of carved stones. The remains of dwellings in sites such as Delos and Empuries show evidence of embellishment of colorful mosaics and elegant frescoes. These ancient stone walls of interlocking components are archaeological traces of human endeavour and civilisation. We can only imagine the sophistication, skill and resourcefulness of the people who once lived there.
Alber’s investigations into colour theory and geometry have laid the foundation for many of my paintings. In my work I have attempted to evoke the essence of the sometimes overlooked places I have experienced during my adventures, simultaneously wondering how our own times might be viewed by future generations.
March 2019
