For many years I had contemplated creating a Tree of Life work, waiting until the idea felt resolved enough to pursue. A significant influence was a John Coburn artwork my father gave me many years ago. Coburn's ability to distil the natural world into bold, symbolic forms has remained with me, providing both inspiration and a point of departure.
As the work evolved, it became a reflection on connection and continuity. It prompted thoughts of family, mentors, and the individuals whose guidance and example shape our lives. The tree becomes more than a botanical form; it is a universal symbol of growth, resilience, belonging, and the relationships that sustain us across generations.
While acknowledging the influence of mid-century modern aesthetics, the work reinterprets these ideas through my own visual language of layered timber, colour, and resin. The distinctive curved-corner frame is integral to the composition, extending the work beyond the image itself and reinforcing its sculptural presence.