
Historically, artists have been more interested in the permanence of their work, chasing a dream of longevity that would secure them a place in posterity. It might seem surprising then, that Michael has chosen ‘Ephemerality’ as the title of this show. In his figurative paintings, the elements of spirituality and sensuality vie for dominance. His cast of beautiful, often eccentrically coiffured young women, pose languidly demanding the viewer’s attention; however their impermanence is implied throughout by a visual blurring of the edges, a sense that each figure will start to disintegrate before our eyes. The broad brush strokes, while defining their features to perfection, simultaneously create an other-worldly quality around each figure. The consequent impression is that of a series of transient creatures – sprites, deities or spirits – their image caught fleetingly from the corner of our eye, moments before they vanish into the ether. Michael’s paintings convey this world of ephemerality and the inevitable evanescence of physical beauty to perfection. As objects of sheer beauty they are a pleasure and as works of art, they will, I have no doubt, endure.