We acknowledge the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the Country on which the Art Gallery of NSW stands.

Title

Oceania high low

2014

Artist

Michael Johnson

Australia

1938 –

  • Details

    Date
    2014
    Media category
    Painting
    Materials used
    oil on canvas
    Dimensions
    184.0 x 366.0 cm stretcher
    Signature & date

    Signed u.r. verso on stretcher, black fibre-tipped pen "Michael Johnson". Dated u.l. verso on stretcher, black fibre-tipped pen "... 2014 ...".

    Credit
    Acquired with funds provided by the AGNSW Board of Trustees 2014
    Location
    Not on display
    Accession number
    172.2014
    Copyright
    © Michael Johnson/Copyright Agency

    Reproduction requests

    Wynne Prize
    Winner - 2014
    Artist information
    Michael Johnson

    Works in the collection

    23

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  • About

    Because of our imposing geographical mass as a single continent, Australia is often viewed as its own entity, rather than what it really is: a vast island in a sea of islands known as Oceania.

    This work pays homage to the origin myths of Oceania, particularly the Māori legend of the sky and earth being separated to admit the light of day.

    Landscape is so often signalled by the division of sea and sky but this work deals with convex space rather than a conventional horizontal perspective. With a wider scale and a paler palette, I explore the inverted geology under the sea or the unmapped strata of clouds.

    Michael Johnson 2014

  • Exhibition history

    Shown in 3 exhibitions

  • Bibliography

    Referenced in 4 publications

Other works by Michael Johnson

See all 23 works