This painting was inspired by a residency in China where I became very interested in masks and identity, and also by a visit to King Island where there are numerous shipwrecks.
It is a type of self portrait, with me refecting on what it means to take on different roles and identities. My face is half concealed by a mask, and it is also shrouded in a transparent fabric.
Just as a face can either be used to express and communicate or conceal and deceive, a mask too can both conceal and reveal. A mask can hide the wearer, disguise true identity or create a barrier. But as well it can facilitate communication by simplifying and highighting features and characteristics in a symbolic way, thereby defining roles or creating a new identity. The choice of mask may also reveal a lot about the intentions and perceptions of the wearer.
The exact line between concealment and revelation must be negotiated by both the wearer and the viewer.
Viewing things things from alternative perspectives and looking 'beneath the surface' has been a common thread in my practice.