About
In 2026, I will travel to the high-altitude mountain forests of southwest China to study and paint the endangered Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey (金丝猴) in its native habitat.
From direct observation, field sketches and photography, I will develop a major new body of oil paintings in my Melbourne studio. The series will culminate in exhibitions in Melbourne and China in 2028 — the Year of the Monkey.
This project represents a significant new chapter in my practice and my first sustained body of work centred on mainland China.
Range Map for Golden Snub-Nosed Monkeys
The Golden Monkey paintings will range from intimate portrait studies to large-scale canvases exploring presence, endurance and isolation at altitude.
As with all my field-based projects, the major works will be developed from firsthand study. I am interested not only in the physicality of the animal, but in the atmosphere of its environment — the cold forests, the elevation, the stillness.
Select works may be available for private acquisition prior to the 2028 exhibitions.
Golden snub-nosed monkeys, Sichuan
Photo Wang LiQiang
Timeline
Field research — 2026
Studio development — 2026–2027
Preview exhibition — Xi’an, Shaanxi, 2027
Major exhibitions — Melbourne and China, 2028 (Year of the Monkey)
⸻
Collector Enquiries
A small number of collectors will be invited to follow the development of this body of work.
If you are interested in studio previews, early acquisition opportunities or exhibition partnerships, I welcome direct enquiries.
