Apr 24, 2017

Searching the Bay


Recherche Bay, Tasmania

The second of my series based on the futile attempt of the French 
d’Entrecasteaux expedition to find missing explorer La Pérouse
It is named in honour of the Recherche, one of the expedition's ships.

They spent 26 days collecting botanical samples, 
and recording the lives of the Aboriginal inhabitants.

120 x 120cm Oil on Linen




Searching for La Perouse



A view of Recherche Bay, Tasmania Australia.
This bay is almost at the bottom of the world! It is the furthermost point that a car, and a stroke survivor (my husband, Bob) could walk to. We were there in February 2016, and I painted and photographed the site for a future project.

This painting is number one of this project: it is referencing the visit of a French expedition:

"Recherche Bay located on the extreme south-eastern corner of TasmaniaAustralia. It was a landing place of the d’Entrecasteaux expedition to find missing explorer La Pérouse. It is named in honour of the Recherche, one of the expedition's ships."

Sadly, La Perouse was no where near here: he had died a few years earlier on one of the islands in the Pacific. 

My figures are like the young French sailors who spent 26 days exploring the area, collecting samples for the scientists on the expedition.

120 x 120cm Oil on Canvas