Unseen One

The image source of this painting is taken from a visit to Buenos Aires, Argentina. One afternoon we visited the La Recoleta Cemetery. Amongst the many impressive monuments, I was struck by a statue of an angel standing vigil. Her face was serene but stern. Her firm gaze held mine as I wandered past. I returned later and took some photos, which I revisited a few years later and decided would be a good basis for a large painting.

Generally, the intention of this work was simple. Go big. The panel is a metre square wood board. I have a fondness for drawing and decided a hard surface would be closer to the feel of drawing on paper. Rather than the conventional canvas, which I find often find has a very different feel in terms of a surface.

Conceptually the piece talks about a spiritual moment, folklore and exploring the idea of a space between moments where mythical creatures could exist.

We live in a world where we attempt to control all aspects of our journey through life. But no matter how much planning is involved, things can change. What if these events and alterations were embodied as life forms?
The old kitchen table stories - blaming malicious fairies for souring the milk at the farm dairy. The night-roaming elves of the Unseelie Court throwing stones at cattle... Gremlins blamed when unforeseen circumstances occurred.

In the current world, science has removed these superstitions and folklore.
But as we walk through life - Are these creatures still here? These beings can be benign, charitable, altruistic, or malicious. These tiny spirits, these unsummoned, angelic creatures that live between the worlds and seconds of time. Do they step back and forth into our lives? Is it a special being that creates that chance moment? A sudden change of platforms at the train station at the wrong time? Or a lost object that reappears on a table?
Trivial times- finding five dollars on the ground.
Monumental moments - an angel's invisible hand gently guiding us onwards.

In a world where things are identified by rationality, organised by digital calendars and phone apps. Is there no room for these creatures? Or are these machine things simply more places for the angels and goblins to hide?

Michael Saunders 2020

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Inspired by the introspective awe that nature evokes, my work invites viewers to celebrate light, wilderness, and the elemental forces that shape our world. Each painting captures a moment of wonder — where the landscape reveals its own subtle symbols.
Growing up in Tasmania instilled in me a deep appreciation for wild places. Over time, I’ve realised that my art is both a way of documenting the world and a way of processing it. My images move between observation and imagination, exploring dreams, memory, and the natural forms that feel like glyphs in an primeval language.
I studied in Hobart, completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts.Later, I lived in Scotland and England, visiting galleries across the UK and Europe. Since returning to Australia and settling in Melbourne, painting has become my primary medium.
My work shifts between surrealism, symbolism, and landscape. I’m inspired equally by real environments and mythical or emotional forces. I’ve painted scenes from Tasmania’s East Coast, Phillip Island, and Margate Beach, as well as imagined landscapes shaped by elemental energy.
I currently work with professional‑grade acrylics on hardboard or canvas, creating durable, high‑quality pieces. Each painting is fitted with hanging wire and ready to display.