Australasia 60s 100e

Creative Rationale

Over the Southern Ocean at 60 degrees south latitude, 100 degrees east longitude, in the harsh waters between Australia and Antarctica, a powerful low pressure system churns with moderate winds and anomalously warm temperatures for this frigid region. The 11.4 m/s winds from the west-southwest drive aggressive diagonal slashes across the composition, while the unusual temperature anomaly of +22.2 K creates violent collisions between warm flesh tones and the cold grays of the Antarctic palette. The low pressure at 994.4 Pa compresses forms against the picture plane, creating the claustrophobic energy of de Kooning's urban abstractions translated into this remote maritime wilderness.