John Davis, Kōan 64, 1994, twigs, calico, bituminous paint, cotton thread, 2378 x 150 x 7 cm.
JOHN DAVIS' work Kōan 64 has been acquired by the Geelong Gallery and will be on display among other recent acquisitions in their show Turmoil & Tranquility - recent acquisitions 2018-19, opening this weekend.
Davis' mature works are a distillation of many of his earlier explorations. While still characterised by the use of inexpensive or found materials and low-technology processes, and reflecting his affinity with the Australian bush, works such as this one present a philosophical perspective and a deeper concern for the state of the world.
The title of the work draws upon the Zen Buddhist concept of Kōan. Eluding a precise definition, the term loosely identities that which cannot be understood through rational thought but might be accessible through intuition. Arguably, for Davis, it articulated that indeterminate space between absence and presence.
Turmoil & Tranquility will run until 16 February.