Layers of History and Coming Through the Fog

The image above is the final stage of one of the larger pieces for Nigel's exhibition at Gunyulgup Galleries at the very beginning of 2009. Progressing from 'The Cartographer' (as discussed previously) the palimpsest has moved out of the abstracted lower realm to cover the land, ocean and mapping of our world. In this image the only language is English; the letters and influence that is being washed up onto the land from the wake of the ship is literally determining our reading of the land. Certainly this ship is not sailing uncharted waters, or discovering new territory. But, rather, revisiting and re-inscripting history with more contemporary words and ideologies.

The language that has been impressed upon the land is a language of contemporary fear and anger: it is the language of power that has no limits. Perhaps the ship (the Endeavour or a replica) is suggesting that despite our new and globalised world; despite our consciousness of difference and supposed respect for the world's multitude of cultures, there is still the possibility that one culture, one language and one set of determining fears can influence the world over.

In the fog, appearing or striving not to disappear, we can make out a figure. The human element. It is in the presence (and potential disappearance) of this figure that this concept of mapping and language and contemporary fear moves out of the abstract and into the personal. What devastation has and will be caused by the unmonitored powers that be?

As always I will acknowledge that these comments are my own reflections on Nigel's work rather than his intent or commentary.

The images that we have below are the different stages of development of the palimpsest in the image 'The Cartographer'. Photographs have been taken at different stages of the images progression and i found it interesting to have the layers all together, and be able to look at them as though looking through different stages of history.

Although there is much to say about this image, the development of the palimpsest and the history of language I will stop here in fear of giving away too much of my own opinion and clouding the reading of the images in their own right - with all the depth and complexity that they have to offer.