In Rituals of Illumination, Sydney based artist Brock Q. Piper presents a series of intricate and layered oil paintings depicting interior scenes. These scenes are diffused and intersected by atmospheric plays of light, figures in dialogue, and the seemingly out of place presence of wild animals, which form the central motif in each composition.

Piper’s scenes appear to the viewer almost like a puzzle to be solved or a labyrinth to be navigated. Every gesture, object, and symbol within these vibrant tapestries is imbued with allegorical depth and symbolic resonance.

The compositions in this exhibition follow a recurring structure. Figures occupy the backgrounds, merging subtly in and out of darkness. Recurring archetypes such as the king, navigator, and scholar are distinguished by their costumes, each representing various aspects of human psychology. These figures communicate silently through symbolic encounters and meaningful hand gestures, holding red strings and tethers that suggest anchors to what we cling to or use to orient ourselves in uncertain terrain. Each interaction narrates a deeper psychological story, inviting viewers to unravel these intricate portrayals of inner experience.

Central to each painting is an animal, which symbolises the proverbial ‘elephant in the room’, representing known yet unspoken truths or tensions. These creatures are rendered in a way that recalls medieval bestiaries, where animals were often illustrated not from life, but from second-hand accounts of travellers’ tales. This method of depicting the unknown through imagined form reinforces their role as psychological symbols: manifestations of fears, conflicts, or desires that remain elusive or ill-defined.

The treatment of light within Piper’s paintings illuminates and reveals the unspoken, exposing moments of awakening and revelation. Yet, ambiguity persists; the light refracts and transforms into veils that simultaneously reveal and conceal, as if one were blinded by the very clarity sought. Piper emphasizes an ongoing interdependence between the known and unknown, chaos and clarity.

Constructed from layers of oil paint glazing and charcoal drawing, these artworks achieve vibrant depth and complexity. The paintings reflect the interplay of reason and instinct, appealing directly to our innate longing to decipher meaning, confront uncertainty, and find connection, awareness, and tranquility amidst confusion and darkness.