Tasmanian Coastal
September 12 2025
In a world where Modernity is all and humanity is reaching for the stars certain things remain the same. The global struggle for waterfront real estate hides a visceral urge to be close to the ocean. Whether this is a dream of a canal side Venetian palazzo or a beach hut in the Maldives the desire to see the changing moods of water is a spiritual connection that runs deep. Artists have long met this need with paintings of the ocean, it’s moods, beauty and peril.
Keith Lane’s research into European marine painters of the sublime has allowed him to develop his own “appropriate visual language” to depict Tasmania’s coast. Informed by the works of Achenbach, Larson and Gudin (and of course Turner) there is imagery centuries deep. The lighthouse, sunset foregrounded by birds flying home and the gathering storm are themes used by these painters. What is different about Lane’s work is that the exquisite yellow green transparency at wavetop and painty splash on rocks is in Tasmanian waters. The ship in the background is the Lady Nelson and the lighthouse is the Iron Pot.
We see the boat courageously braving The Lanterns and notice today’s clothing on the passengers. Often a temporal collage Keith Lane’s works are constructed for maximum emotional impact, blending maritime culture with art precedent, personal experience with philosophical musing.
