The composition is a precarious, intuitive arrangement of a small silver ladle, leaves and some curls of paper all laid on coloured card. The textural and formal variety of these elements created an interplay and relationship that suggested a visual metaphor and poetic connection to a ship of some kind. I came across the myth of the Caleuche, which seemed fitting and connected this piece to Argo, another painting of mine of a ladle on silk, with allusions to ships and the sea.

The Caleuche is

“According to Chilean legend, a large ghost ship sailing the seas around Chiloé (a small island off the coast of Chile) at night. The Caleuche is said to be a being who is conscious and sentient. The ship appears as a beautiful and bright white sailing ship, with 3 masts of 5 sails each, always full of lights and with the sounds of a party on board, but quickly disappears again, leaving no evidence of its presence. The ghost ship is also known to be able to navigate under water” Wikepedia