Painted onto artist’s box parts, the cropped end-panels of wooden travelling chests, box lids and drawer bases, the starting point for this limited series was studying the works of Old Masters for an exhibition and performance at Christie’s (London) in late 2023. While most of these pieces channel the essence of those often romanticised and dramatic scenes, two works directly respond to specific paintings by Julius Porcellis and Andries van Eertvelt: Years I & II.

500 Years (after Porcellis) was first exhibited at Christie’s, London as part of an innovative olfactory exhibition (December 2023, curated by Artphilia). Photographs and film of an accompanying performance can be found here. The painting above re-imagines Julius Porcellis’ Ships in Distress off a Rocky Coast. The iconic rocky structure in the foreground – describing a quasi-human form, angled as if striding to the shore – is now partially submerged. The painting outlines a future we must strive to avoid; the recycled substrate references the need to harness sustainability.