Spirit's Tree | Collector's Choice
- catherinbennett
- Aug 6
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 9
Collector's Choice · Edition 01
"There are some places we never really leave. They return in fragments of memory, dreams and quiet moments of reflection."
That feeling stayed with me throughout the making of Spirit's Tree.
Rather than depicting a specific landscape, I wanted to capture the sensation of remembering one. Like a dream recalled on waking, the image is never entirely clear. It shifts between memory and imagination, revealing just enough to feel familiar before quietly retreating again.
Created through multiple layers of oil paint, the work evolved slowly over time. Shadows, hidden forms and delicate details emerged within the branches and trunk, each layer suggesting another possibility. At times the tree appears almost ghost-like, dissolving into an icy landscape or the fading light of early evening before gradually reappearing as your eye moves across the surface.
I have always been fascinated by artworks that reward time and observation. Rather than revealing everything at once, Spirit's Tree invites viewers to slow down and look again. Every viewing offers another hidden detail, another connection, another story waiting to be discovered. Like memory itself, the painting is never completely fixed. It continues to evolve through the experiences and imagination of each person who stands before it.
Looking back, I now recognise Spirit's Tree as an important moment in the evolution of my practice. Created in 2022 and first exhibited in my solo exhibition In & Between in Sydney in 2023, it introduced ideas that continue to shape my work today—transformation, ambiguity and the quiet relationship between memory, perception and the natural world.
Artwork Record
Artist: Catherin Bennett
Title: Spirit's Tree
Created: 2022
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 144 × 72 cm
Presentation: Ready to hang
First exhibited: In & Between, Sydney, 2023
Discover More
If Spirit's Tree resonates with you, I'd love to hear from you. Whether you'd like to enquire about the artwork or simply continue the conversation, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
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