Absorption: A Series of Indirect Portraits

Excerpt:

The Neighbour, oil on canvas

This painting is from inside the home of a dilapidated share house in Coolangatta, on the Gold Coast, occupied by a rotating number of 20-somethings. The interior was saved by velvet couches, record players, and lush indoor plants. The lure of cheap rent with an ocean view almost nullified the mould growing on the walls and the unnerving slant of the second srory floor. This house was gorgeous. It’s occupants a motley crew of millennials building their own family. Cook ups took place every second Friday night, led by Eli, the long-haired boy from Israel who calls his mum his best friend. 

In my year of living next door to the house I saw five housemates come and go, along with one lover-turned-stalker who broke in once or twice. Thus far, one girl remains. The matriarch of the friend-family, she has been in residence the longest. She had taken on the responsibility to look after Salem, the black cat that had called the front yard home for a rumoured 18 years, that was until his recent gruesome death. Everyone knew his death was around the corner, but no one expected it to be in such a bloody way. We all assumed that one day we would find him curled up under the bushes, having passed in his sleep. Unfortunately, while on his regular curb-side duty, he was attacked by a dog being walked by his owner. Although he survived the attack, the decision was made to put him down. It was the end of an era, and a sombre day for the entire neighbourhood.