The moon & Pepper’s ghost – QAGOMA Blog

In 1974, Australian artist Janet Dawson moved from Sydney to Binalong in regional New South Wales. Inspired by her new rural surroundings, she began to embrace more flowing forms, shifting her focus away from the hard-edge painting that she was known for in the 1960s. Describing this transition, Dawson said, ‘In the 60s I accepted flat painting, but then I got bored with it. I wanted depth and optical movement.’

In The moon and Pepper’s ghost 1979 (illustrated), Dawson combines her understanding of abstraction and interest in landscape, representing the moon, sky and ground through a series of intersecting and shifting geometric planes. Her title references the ‘Pepper’s ghost’ theatre technique, popularised in the 1800s, in which light and reflections are used to create the appearance of ghostly apparitions onstage. Alluding to patterns of light in nature and the tricks they play on the human eye, this painting speaks to the illusions that occur in everyday life.

Janet Dawson ‘The moon and Pepper’s ghost’ 1979

Janet Dawson, Australia b.1935 / The moon and Pepper’s ghost 1979 / Synthetic polymer paint on linen / Triptych: 214 x 336cm (overall) / Gift of Clinton Tweedie as a tribute to his parents Heather and Arthur Tweedie through the QAGOMA Foundation 2023. Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Janet Dawson/Copyright Agency

Delve deeper into the Collection

Janet Dawson, Australia b.1935 / Stencil no. 3 1963 / Coloured stencil on thick cream wove paper / 57 x 75.2 cm / Purchased 1965 / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Janet Dawson/Copyright Agency
Janet Dawson, Australia b.1935 / Coffee table c.1964 / Laminex plastic sheet on composition board; metal legs / Base: 61 x 61 x 35.5cm (2.5cm square tubing); top: 122 (diam.) x 3cm / Gift of James Mollison AO through the QAG Foundation 2010. Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Janet Dawson/Copyright Agency

The moon and Pepper’s ghost is on display within the Queensland Art Gallery’s Australian Art Collection, Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Galleries (10-13).

More from author

Related posts

Latest posts