Michael Muir: Above the Surface

 JD Malat Gallery is delighted to announce, "Above the Surface," a solo exhibition showcasing Australia-based painter Michael Muir. Presenting five captivating new works, this exclusive collection encapsulates Muir's distinctive visual language characterized by its potent simplicity in composition combined with vibrant colours and rich texture. 

 

Originally from Scotland, Muir's formative years were marked by a nomadic existence across Southeast Asia before eventually settling in Sydney, Australia. His peripatetic upbringing deeply informs Muir's artistic practice, manifesting in his adept ability to reconcile the juxtaposition of the familiar with the novelty of new experiences. 

 

Employing loose sketches as his starting point, Muir utilizes only a palette knife to apply oil paint, resulting in surfaces that are meticulously delineated yet richly textured. Reintroducing depth and detail into the areas of flat colour, Muir focuses on the presence of light in his paintings to convey feelings of nostalgia. In a playful exploration of memory and reality, Muir navigates the dynamic tension between abstraction and figuration.