Fiona Chandler’s latest collection of works, I know that rock, muses on another lockdown. However, within this comes the sense of peace and reflection — especially when isolated on the picturesque Sydney’s Northern Beaches. In I know that rock, Chandler meditates on the familiarity of the landscape, a sense of questioning recognition. Patterns unfold, colours reveal, and the light touches differently.
This deep pondering in lockdown has given the artist time to reflect and see her surroundings from alternating perspectives. The collection also uncovers Chandler’s love of watercolour, exploring the materiality, depth of colour, and layers and layers. She is able to contain the colour spectrum within one painting; varying shades and tones reveal themselves. Often faced with the comment, ‘I can’t believe it’s watercolour’, I know that rock is the result of the artist’s efforts to push the medium on canvas.
