Brett McMahon: Soundings

The genesis of this exhibition lies in the coastal bushland near Brett McMahon‘s home on the mid-coast of NSW, where he often walks, and where shifting sands echo the effects of wind, sun, and rain. In recent years, this place has become something of an obsession—a site of meditative contemplation and an escape from a complicated world. Subtle shifts in the bush’s form provide a backdrop for the vibrant colour of the wildflowers woven through the undergrowth. Birds bounce from limb to limb, their calls and songs inhabiting this invisible space.

In Soundings, McMahon offers us a maximal experience of the landscape while also delving into the minutiae we often pass by. Beyond its aesthetic beauty lies something of fundamental importance. It is a poignant reminder that life is fleeting, and that the experiences beyond the omnipresent virtual world are the bedrock of our very existence.

Brett McMahon, Nightflower 7, 2026, Oil, enamel, acrylic on linen, 190x148cm.