I Woke To Find Myself In A Helen Maudsley Painting
- Setken Of Melbourne
- Jul 21
- 2 min read
Updated: 23 hours ago
My painting I Woke To Find Myself In A Helen Maudsley Painting is the first full size work completed in an intended series of four that pay homage to artists[1] that I admire or who interest me. Helen Maudsley falls into both categories, and I have written of her influence elsewhere in this blog.
That blog post references an exhibition I saw featuring Helen’s work in late 2023, but I am certain I knew about her and had seen her paintings whilst researching Australia’s women artists – specifically Mabel Young – when researching material for my book on David Syme’s tomb.
The parallel between Mabel Young – also married to a famous painter, Blamire – and Helen is not lost on me. Mabel was an artist, woodworker and metal craftswoman; the metal components of the illustrious Syme tomb are her work. Potentially she (and possibly Blamire) designed the tiles on the mausoleum also, discussed at length in my book.
In my homage series I wanted to explore the style of the respective artist without losing my own in the execution of it. What would happen if I mixed, blended or borrowed elements of the style of that artist with my own? What would result? Earlier attempts with this idea resulted in last year’s homage to British Constructivist Marlow Moss.
I enjoyed exploring Helen’s oeuvre as I made the painting. Coincidentally, I began executing the piece as Clara Brack’s book The Secret Landscapes[2] was published. Clara is Helen’s eldest daughter and the painting was completed as I made my way through the book!
I do not view this as coincidental. I wrote of this to Clara and she kindly replied, subsequently showing the painting to her mother who has commented positively about it!
The painting takes on a surrealist feel that I had not initially intended but am happy to observe in the final result.
I Woke To Find Myself In A Helen Maudsley Painting, along with another of my pieces, is being shown at an exhibition presented by the Mitchell Shire Council called HArt26.[3] It runs from Saturday July 25th to Sunday August 2nd.
[1] Of the other three intended "homage" works, two studies have been completed (Hilma af Klint found here, and Edvard Munch), whilst Arnold Rechberg’s tribute has a title that also pays homage to a Manic Street Preachers song, and a theme reflecting a novel by Philip K Dick; Arnold Rechberg (1879 – 1947) was a German painter and sculptor
[2] The book is a wonderful narrative non-fiction work featuring both of her parents, John Brack being her father
[3] I have been living in a property in Strath Creek as part of an artist residency courtesy of the generosity of Bruce Parncutt AO
