Inspired by Verdure Tapestries, Kerrie Hughes’ paintings are similarly characterised by their green tones, complex foliage and flower motifs. They operate an interface between the exterior and the interior.

‘I painted my first green room when I lived in London, cut off from nature and surrounded by ugliness in the East End. The room was my haven and refuge, a private eden which I would retreat to, instantly feeling happy and calm. The inspiration came from Verdue Tapestry rooms I would come across in Britain. When I entered them I felt transported into another primal world, surrounded by muted greens and blues – idealised nature. I then encountered tapeter – portable murals painted on cloth, common in Sweden. I fell in love with this style – naïve, wild and folksy. This has led me to these large canvas. They encapsulate the viewer, encompassing them within this environment and atmosphere.’

New Zealand Background no 2 is an extension of Hughes’ first New Zealand Background series, 2020. Consisting of four loose hanging canvas, the paintings are complete in themselves, but combined operate as an immersive forest, a haven into idealised nature featuring both native and introduced species. Each of the four works has a different theme indicative of New Zealand’s diverse multicultural population; Indigenous, Chinese, South Pacific and Indian and is populated by familiar iconography, flora and fauna associated with these cultures.