signed lower right: Coburn
Provenance: The estate of John Coburn
 
Exhibited:
Barry Stern Gallery at Mary Place, 13 November - 3 Dec 1982 cat. no.1
Von Bertouch Galleries Newcastle July 30 - August 25 1982 cat. no.1
David Reid’s Gallery at Mary Place August 28 - Sept 26 1981 cat. no. 5

Earth I is one of a series of five large-scale paintings that Coburn painted in 1981-82, inspired by the barren and expansive Australian landscape. The series of horizontal rectangular shapes pay homage to the art of Mark Rothko, as well as displaying Coburn’s interest in the Aboriginal experience of the land. It can be read in a number of ways; either as a cross- section with strata layers of rock and earth, or through perspective, with a distinct fore, middle and background, and a suggestion of mountains in the distance.

'Coburn’s interest in Aboriginal art developed long before it became fashionable. He had become familiar with it during his visits to the Australian Museum as an art student. This early contact laid the way for Coburn’s later interest when he began to realise that he saw Australia very much as the Aborigines saw it; as a symbolic and mystical land. This became more evident in his 1982 exhibition held at the Barry Stern Gallery, in which the Earth Series paintings were exhibited.'1

'One of the things I used to say to students when I was teaching, is that the horizontal symbolizes the earth and the vertical symbolizes God. I wanted to do this series of paintings which are about the Australian earth, and I wanted them to be strong and simple. I think by reducing the image to simple horizontal shapes they gained power.'2

1 Klepac, L., John Coburn: The Spirit of Colour, The Beagle Press, Roseville, 2003, p.80.
2 John Coburn in Amadio, N., John Coburn: Paintings, Craftsman House, Roseville, 1988, p.116.