As I sat on the beach of Recherche Bay near Cockle Creek, a young fisherman returned from a trip, rowing his boat as it’s engine had failed, and was met by friends on shore.
I felt I was looking at French sailors from the d’Entrecasteaux expedition in 1793, who arrived looking for La Perouse, an explorer who had disappeared years before.
Despite not finding their hero, they spent 24 days exploring those waterways, mapping and collecting plants for scientific research.
 
120 x 120cm
Oil on linen
2017