Westall, 1966 - Above the Oval - 104 x 123 cm

This painting responds to the Westall UFO incident, one of Australia's most enduring and widely witnessed unexplained events. Rather than depicting the sighting directly, the work explores the feeling that surrounds it. Deep blues and flowing cream lines create a space suspended between memory, perception and possibility.

Abstract orbs and UFO forms drift through the composition, while a small school building anchors the work to a specific place and moment in time. The contrast between the familiar and the unknown reflects the experience of an ordinary day interrupted by something extraordinary.

Responding to the theme Atmospheres, the painting considers how places can hold traces of events long after they occur. The swirling lines suggest movement, energy and collective memory, while the open space invites contemplation. Rather than offering answers, the work preserves a sense of wonder and uncertainty, inviting viewers to reflect on an event that remains unresolved and continues to occupy the Australian imagination.