Still Life, 1982 (October 1)

Still Life, completed in October 1982, is a thoughtful exploration of colour, form, and everyday objects by Allan Harrison. Arranged with careful balance, a wine bottle, wooden bucket, draped striped cloth, and cluster of purple flowers are transformed into a quietly compelling composition. Harrison's rich yet restrained palette, combined with his sensitive treatment of light and texture, lends even the simplest objects a remarkable sense of presence and harmony. The vibrant turquoise tablecloth and bold red chair provide strong chromatic contrasts, while the carefully orchestrated geometry of the composition reflects the artist's disciplined approach to design.


Interestingly are the inscriptions on the stretcher, where Harrison recorded each day he worked on the painting, beginning on September 22 and concluding on October 1, 1982. These notations offer a rare glimpse into the artist's working process, documenting the painting's evolution over ten consecutive days and underscoring the deliberate, considered manner in which the composition was brought to completion.