Escape by Moonlight, 1987

CHARLES BLACKMAN
Escape by Moonlight, 1987
Oil on linen
350 x 920 cm

AUDIO TRANSCRIPT

Artist Charles Blackman, title Escape by Moonlight, 1987. This commissioned large canvas is by one of Australia’s most famous modern artists, Charles Blackman. He’s known for his dream state paintings. The title of this work, Escape by Moonlight, is typical of his dreamlike paintings, which presents us with iconic landmarks of Sydney Harbour and all at night time pairs of animals ascending from Taronga Zoo, spiralling upwards towards Noah’s Ark, illuminated by a radiant moon. A downcast gaze of a young girl trapped in the Sydney Harbour Bridge replaces the laughing lunar park face. A celestial sun watches over the girl who turns her forlorn face towards a bunch of blood-red roses. These burn fiery red on a table of blackness, suggesting both love and loss. In this painting, you will see recurrent themes from Blackman’s painting including the butterfly, cat, schoolgirl and Alice figure. While this mysterious scene unfolds, everyday life continues as ferries glide across the waters and passes by Lounge on the Shore, observing the moment of change and existing simultaneously in a contemporary and imaginary space.