Above the Surface

2 May - 1 June 2024

JD Malat Gallery is proud to present Above the Surface, an exhibition by Australia-based painter Michael Muir, marking his debut showcase in London. Presenting five new works, the exhibition from May 2nd - 1st June will transform the gallery space into a vivid extension of Muir's paintings complete with white sand and palm trees functioning to reflect the artist's profound connection to the natural world.

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Michael Muir, Oceans away, 2024
Michael Muir, Holding On, 2024, Oil on linen, 54 x 48 in, 137 x 122 cm

An Empirical Practice

Originally from Scotland, Muir's formative years were spent travelling throughout Southeast Asia before eventually settling in Sydney, Australia where the artist is currently based. 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.

Muir's paintings are predominately inspired by his experience of the landscape and awe of both natural and built environments. He states, "Above the surface has different meanings, layers and elements to it. I continue to think about perception and reality in the context of paint. First impressions, hidden textures, and meanings. The ocean has been a constant in my life for the last 20 years and I like the idea that rhythm and lines in the ocean can create a state of flow that works across an artistic medium like painting."
Michael Muir, The waterline, 2024, Oil on linen, 54 x 48 in, 137 x 122 cm

Muir's Method

In a minimalist interpretation of our constructed landscapes, Muir's paintings employ a vivid yet refined colour palette. The geometric forms he presents reveal uncertain boundaries, imbuing his canvases with natural rhythm along with an intriguing sense of an alternate dimension. Utilizing loose sketches of his surroundings as a starting point, Muir deftly wields a palette knife to apply oil paint onto his canvases. First creating flattened surfaces, he then reintroduces texture and detailed marks into the areas of colour, using the palette knife much like a pencil to create depth and dimension.
Nature and Nostalgia

The deliberate use of broad, flat planes of colour reshapes our perceptions of the landscape, offering a unique lens through which reality unfolds. These expanses imbue the scenery with a distinct sense of simplicity, stripping away extraneous details to reveal the raw essence beneath and fostering a connection between the observer and the environment. With a meticulous eye and a profound understanding of how light shapes perception, Muir deftly employs it as a tool to evoke emotions of nostalgia.

Muir's work employs autobiographical referencing, regarding his childhood, children, multicultural background and travels. Enacting a generational connectivity while incorporating personal resonance, Muir's compositions embody a sentimentality that operates on a universal and individual scale, leaving the viewer with visual documentation of his artificially constructed memories. Verging the borders of figuration and abstraction, Muir playfully harnesses mundane scenes and imbues them with an atmospheric warmth, leaving his audience in a state of comfort and familiarity in scenes that are virtually unknown to them.
'Above the Surface'

The paintings in Above the Surface are strikingly optimistic, playfully shifting between memory and reality and exploring the tension between abstraction and figuration. Thoughtfully curated, JD Malat Gallery creates a space where Muir's paintings come alive and the gallery space is transformed into a lush sandy beach, inviting viewers on a transcendent journey, where boundaries blur, and the beauty of the natural world reigns supreme.