John Coburn - Sacred Site II 2003 Ed 17 of 30

John Coburn's "Uluru" series of paintings draws inspiration from a variety of sources, including his personal connection to the Australian landscape, deep respect for Australian Aboriginal culture and spirituality, and creative influences from Europe.

When Coburn visited Uluru (previously Ayers Rock in the Northern Territory of Australia), he was struck by its sheer size, presence, and spiritual importance. He regarded it as a living being endowed with old wisdom and stories. The rock's bright colours, especially at sunrise and sunset (thus the browns, reds, and blacks), as well as its ever-changing moods under various lighting circumstances, heavily influenced his abstract interpretations.

Coburn spent extensive time with several Aboriginal groups in Australia's Northern Territory and learnt of their profound connection to Uluru as a sacred site (he later created a series of works titled "Sacred Site" as a continuation of this series of Australian landscapes). This understanding inspired his approach, motivating him to portray the essence of the setting rather than just a precise representation. He hoped to invoke the mystical energy and enduring ancestral presence that exists within Uluru.

Sacred Site II is the second in a series of comparable works that provide a unique symbolism for the Australian landscape. His mastery of form and colour is especially evident in this work, which depicts the artist's interpretation of the countryside in a highly stylised manner. The vibrant crimson border that surrounds each figure is extraordinarily luminous and represents the radiant heat generated by the landscape's rock formations that punctuate the surroundings.

The artist pioneered abstract expressionism in Australia. He thought that abstract painting may express deeper emotions and spiritual experiences beyond the constraints of figurative representation. Using bold shapes, brilliant colours, and dramatic compositions, he attempted to capture the essence of Uluru in a way that spoke to the viewer on a more emotional level.

Artwork Details:

Materials - Multi-plate Silkscreen, Hand Finished by the Artist
Size - 20 1/10 × 19 9/10 × 1/5 in | 51 × 50.5 × 0.4 cm
Rarity - Limited Edition 17 of 30
Medium - Silkscreen Print
Condition - Pristine Condition
Signature - Hand-signed by artist, Signed & dated in pencil, 'Coburn '03'. Titled lower centre, 'Sacred Site II'. Inscribed with impression details
Certificate of authenticity - Included (issued by gallery; one issued by authorised authenticating body)
Image rights - Image Copyright the Artist