Piano Top Still Life (with Apologies to John, Joanna, Euan, Reg and Artists and Crafts-peoples Various)

Contemporary still life painting has evolved beyond traditional representations of inanimate objects to become a deeply personal and introspective genre. In recent years, artists have increasingly used still life compositions to explore themes of memory, identity, and emotional connection. This shift reflects a broader cultural interest in the meanings attached to everyday objects, particularly those that evoke personal histories and relationships. Collected items—such as heirlooms, gifts, or handmade artifacts—often serve as vessels of sentimental value, embodying the presence of loved ones and the bonds of friendship and family. Through careful arrangement and painterly attention, these objects are transformed into intimate narratives, allowing viewers to engage with an emotional landscape and reflect on experiences of attachment and connection.

Piano Top Still Life (with Apologies to John, Joanna, Euan, Reg and Artists and Crafts-peoples Various) contributes to contemporary still life painting by foregrounding the emotional and relational resonance of everyday objects. Through a careful assemblage of personally significant items, the work becomes both a tribute and a visual dialogue with the individuals referenced in the title—family, friends, and makers whose presence is evoked through the material traces they leave behind. The painting reflects personal connection to these figures, using still life not merely as a formal exercise but as a means of storytelling and remembrance. In doing so, it aligns with a broader cultural shift that values the affective power of domestic and handmade objects, highlighting how such items serve as conduits for memory, identity, and enduring human connection.

This research is significant in its exploration of how contemporary still life painting can serve as a powerful medium for expressing personal attachment and emotional resonance through everyday objects. Through the creation of Piano Top Still Life (with Apologies to John, Joanna, Euan, Reg and Crafts-peoples Various), the work highlights how art can document and preserve intimate relationships, transforming collected objects into visual narratives that reflect memory, identity, and connection. Positioned within a wider cultural context that increasingly values the emotional significance of material culture, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of how still life can function as both personal homage and cultural commentary.

• Selected as a finalist for inclusion in the St Columba’s Art Prize, Blue Mountains