Have you ever found yourself mesmerised by the interior of the seashell or a ray of light falling on a wet leaf? Matthew Johnson has. His iridescent paintings delight in the play of colour and light on a surface. Johnson draws on the work of nihonga painters who are trained in traditional Japanese methods of mixing rare pigments, often made from natural materials such as shell. Johnson uses the iridescent pigment iriodin, which is made from sand and makes his canvases shimmer. These images consist of fragile, delicate grid patterns overlaid with pastel colours from luxurious lilacs to hazy blues and Johnson observes shifting light sources throughout the day.

- Annemarie Lopez

Sydney Morning Herald SYDNEY MAGAZINE Thursday 28 September 2006