Taut Tents

Seems to be a tentage theme going on this week.

Dear little tent structures held up by poles.

Here is Fiona Somerville’s tent. It’s a wonderful painting.

Fiona is one of those naturally talented drawers and painters. Must be a lineage thing as Australia’s first pro painter, John Lewin, is her great great great grandfather.

| Fiona Somerville, Tent, 1990 | click to enlarge |

Fiona remembers being enthralled by the story of Daisy Bates living in her tent out near Ooldea in South Australia. The idea of impermanence, movability, temporariness, a haven for the restless.

It’s great the way she has emphasised the tautness of the tent by using a flat blank white shape.

Julia Ritson