We’re all interlinked, if not by person by colour and shape.

Perhaps I’m claustrophobic but seeing horizons soothes me – hence containerships and trips to the Flinders Ranges.

This is one of two paintings displayed at the D’Arenberg Cube. It was a lovely feeling painting this – more subconscious that conscious.

On a hot Sunday afternoon after a few drinks, I laid the large canvas against the wire in the backyard. As I painted my sadness also became anger fuelled by alcohol and the 5AA talkback views on refugees. Eventually, drunk and exhausted I tossed the canvas in the kids’ shed and thankfully forgot it. A couple of years later friends of my girls declared they had found a painting that they loved, I was bemused. They showed it to me. I like it, very much. I hung it inside.

Modestly I say it was admired by others. My then partner Caddie then pointed out the paint was running upwards. I had hung it upside down. To all of us it it brought breasts in mind, I exhibited it as such. (See the next image) I won’t harangue you on my stance with respect to refugees other than to say it is firm, unlike on my stance on breasts which is flexible.

I see them as Russian peasants in church. My first daughter Millie was baptised in the Russian Orthodox Church. The congregation had to remain standing, my wife was excluded because of her period. The two Rasputin conducted the service loudly in Russian and dunked Millie numerous times which was the only thing that stopped her screaming. It was an understatement to say it was harrowing to all but my wife and the two priests. My next two daughters were baptised at home by a take away Russian Priest and on each occasion I had a BBQ and drank beers on the deck.

Are they tourists or Byzantines, or are they both.

It is wrong, historically wrong, to think there weren’t plenty of good times from the very beginning.. And boy, could they dance.