This is part of a series of paintings I call my ‘patchwork’ paintings. A large central
image is surrounded by decorative borders made up of related complex imagery. In the
case of the Moroccan paintings the idea is very closely related to the design of Eastern
carpets, particularly the stylization of prayer mats. I wanted to explore the possibility of
containing figurative images within grids or decorative structures. The eye is drawn
around the picture plane but always back to the central image. The painting is also to
be read as a narrative painting, the images evoke the spirit of the place. In this case the
colours are predominantly blue and white with the soft earth colours of many of the
structures and references to the brightly coloured goods on sale in the town’s arcades.
image is surrounded by decorative borders made up of related complex imagery. In the
case of the Moroccan paintings the idea is very closely related to the design of Eastern
carpets, particularly the stylization of prayer mats. I wanted to explore the possibility of
containing figurative images within grids or decorative structures. The eye is drawn
around the picture plane but always back to the central image. The painting is also to
be read as a narrative painting, the images evoke the spirit of the place. In this case the
colours are predominantly blue and white with the soft earth colours of many of the
structures and references to the brightly coloured goods on sale in the town’s arcades.
