John Coburn - Oribi Sunset 1990

"Oribi Sunset 1990," a silkscreen by John Coburn, depicts a striking interplay of organic forms and resonant colours that communicates to the viewer on both a visual and emotional level.

A rich, deep crimson dominates the composition, evoking the warmth and vibrancy of a sunset. This brilliant red moulds and shapes the space, producing a dynamic tension between the figures, which appear to undulate and breathe inside the piece's confines.

The focal orb, depicted in a brilliant orange, symbolic of the setting sun itself - a celestial body that anchors and imbues the piece with an almost celestial level of importance. The surrounding shapes, in various shades of black, brown, and beige, indicate a landscape altered by the fading light. Although abstract, these figures may evoke the undulating terrain of the desert or the silhouetted forms of the Oribi rock formations themselves.

Coburn's original use of negative space (evident in much of his work during this period), as well as the tactile nature of the silkscreen method, give the work a sculptural dimension, inviting the onlooker to consider the interrelationship of form, colour, and space. Textural variations within the red regions replicate natural rhythms observed in nature, implying the ebb and flow of nature's own brushstrokes.

"Oribi Sunset 1990" demonstrates Coburn's ability to distil the essence of a natural moment into a composition that surpasses literal portrayal. It is a work of art that captures the subject's visual splendour, but also its transitory and transcendent beauty.

Materials - Multi-plate Silkscreen, Hand Finished by the Artist
Size - 27 1/5 × 22 3/5 × 1/5 in | 69 × 57.5 × 0.5 cm
Rarity - Limited edition
Medium - Print
Condition - Pristine Condition
Signature- Hand-signed by artist, Signed & dated in black pencil, 'Coburn '90'. Titled lower centre. Inscribed with impression details lower left.
Certificate of authenticity - Included (one issued by gallery; one issued by authorized authenticating body)
Publisher - Silk Screen, Published by the Artist John Coburn in an Edition of 99 Only
Image rights - Image Copyright the Artist