Laith McGregor
Through the night | 2026 | oil and graphite on canvas | 153 x 122cm
Sunshine Coast National Art Prize 2026 - Finalist
Image courtesy of artist.
Laith McGregor
NSW
Through the night
2026
Oil and graphite on canvas
153 x 122cm
Through the Night is a meditative painting exploring ideas of polarity. Concepts of duality have presented a multitude of challenges for the planet, from social injustices to climate emergencies and ecological neglect. These inconsistencies with the rhythm of the natural world are interconnected and troubling to say the least.
This work reflects my own feelings of helplessness, isolation and expectancy, during these unprecedented times. Vulnerability is highlighted through the depiction of a ship at sea, drifting, perhaps in control, perhaps not? Graphite and oil paint intermingle on the surface, creating a ghostly presence, while the work is anchored by two ambiguous perforations, opening questions.
I see this work as a self-portrait and a response of a collective awareness, a moment in time that is perhaps a pivotal turning point, floating between the real and the unreal.