{"id":1911336,"date":"2026-04-30T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1911336"},"modified":"2026-04-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T21:00:00","slug":"in-monica-rohans-paintings-tablecloths-and-chairs-uncannily-perch-in-remote-landscapes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1911336","title":{"rendered":"In Monica Rohan\u2019s Paintings, Tablecloths and Chairs Uncannily Perch in Remote Landscapes"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1550\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rohan7.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"a painting by Monica Rohan of patterned fabrics floating in a lush landscape with bentwood chairs\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cWild Flowers\u201d (2026), oil on canvas, 107 x 137 centimeters. All photos by Jon Linkins, courtesy of Monica Rohan, shared with permission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">In Monica Rohan\u2019s Paintings, Tablecloths and Chairs Uncannily Perch in Remote Landscapes<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-30T13:54:00-05:00\">April 30, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-art\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/art\/\" rel=\"tag\">Art<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/gebert\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Grace Ebert<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing has-visible-labels has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-is-layout-flex\">\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-facebook has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F04%2Fmonica-rohan-chair-paintings-invitations%2F&amp;title=In%20Monica%20Rohan%27s%20Paintings%2C%20Tablecloths%20and%20Chairs%20Uncannily%20Perch%20in%20Remote%20Landscapes\" aria-label=\"Share\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tShare\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-mail has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#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\" aria-label=\"Email\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tEmail\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"473505\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Home might be a mutable concept, but some objects retain the aura of belonging and comfort even outside the walls we reside in. For <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/monrohan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Monica Rohan<\/a>, those items are patterned fabrics and bentwood dining chairs, which venture outdoors in her vibrant oil paintings.<\/p>\n<p>The Brisbane-based artist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/tags\/monica-rohan\/\">has long depicted<\/a> the supple folds and bright motifs of textiles, which tended to swaddle her characters or hide their faces among natural landscapes. Upholstered loungers and carved wood seats have similarly appeared in unusual spots, precariously holding a figure while nested in a slim hedge or slumping down a small hill. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rohan1.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-473505\" title=\"\u201cDraped Clover\u201d (2026), oil on board, 70 x 100 centimeters\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cDraped Clover\u201d (2026), oil on board, 70 x 100 centimeters\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cDraped Clover\u201d (2026), oil on board, 70 x 100 centimeters\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1401\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rohan1.jpeg\" alt=\"a painting by Monica Rohan of patterned fabrics floating in a lush landscape with bentwood chairs \" class=\"wp-image-473506\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cDraped Clover\u201d (2026), oil on board, 70 x 100 centimeters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In recent years, though, Rohan\u2019s characters have slowly disappeared. Arms that once pulled back a curtain or reached out for stabilization are no longer present, leaving just the domestic objects in place. \u201cI\u2019ve found this quite freeing, allowing me to explore new ideas about the relationship between people and the landscape,\u201d the artist tells Colossal, noting that bentwood chairs have become human stand-ins. \u201cI love their elegant yet rickety construction, and I grew up with them around my kitchen table, so they\u2019re a strong reminder of home for me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Many of the works shown here are part of this transition and will be shown this June at <a href=\"https:\/\/sophiegannongallery.com.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sophie Gannon Gallery<\/a> in Melbourne for Rohan\u2019s solo exhibition, <em>Invitations<\/em>. Against dramatic alpine summits, fast-moving streams, and lush, springtime meadows\u2014scenes derived from the artist\u2019s hiking trip through Tasmania\u2014plaid tablecloths and crocheted blankets float above the earth as if hung on an imperceptible line strung between two invisible poles. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith their exaggerated patterns and strange billowing forms, they appear more ambiguous, wavering between unassuming decoration and smothering intrusion,\u201d the artist adds. \u201cFrom their precarious vantage points, the bentwood chairs no longer offer safe and restful repose. They invite the viewer to join their predicament.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Explore more of Rohan\u2019s paintings on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/monrohan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rohan2.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-473505\" title=\"\u201cFlow\u201d (2026), oil on canvas, 107 x 137 centimeters\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cFlow\u201d (2026), oil on canvas, 107 x 137 centimeters\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cFlow\u201d (2026), oil on canvas, 107 x 137 centimeters\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1553\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rohan2.jpeg\" alt=\"a painting by Monica Rohan of patterned fabrics floating in a lush stream landscape with bentwood chairs \" class=\"wp-image-473507\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cFlow\u201d (2026), oil on canvas, 107 x 137 centimeters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rohan3.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-473505\" title=\"\u201cFuzz\u201d (2026), oil on board, 50 x 35 centimeters\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cFuzz\u201d (2026), oil on board, 50 x 35 centimeters\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cFuzz\u201d (2026), oil on board, 50 x 35 centimeters\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2859\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rohan3.jpeg\" alt=\"a painting by Monica Rohan of a lush floral landscape with a bentwood chair\" class=\"wp-image-473508\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cFuzz\u201d (2026), oil on board, 50 x 35 centimeters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rohan4.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-473505\" title=\"\u201cHeavyweight\u201d (2026), oil on board, 80 x 60 centimeters\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cHeavyweight\u201d (2026), oil on board, 80 x 60 centimeters\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cHeavyweight\u201d (2026), oil on board, 80 x 60 centimeters\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2678\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rohan4.jpeg\" alt=\"a painting by Monica Rohan of patterned crochet quilt floating in a lush landscape with bentwood chairs \" class=\"wp-image-473509\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cHeavyweight\u201d (2026), oil on board, 80 x 60 centimeters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rohan5.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-473505\" title=\"\u201cStream\u201d (2026), oil on canvas, 107 x 137 centimeters\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cStream\u201d (2026), oil on canvas, 107 x 137 centimeters\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cStream\u201d (2026), oil on canvas, 107 x 137 centimeters\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1559\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rohan5.jpeg\" alt=\"a painting by Monica Rohan of patterned fabrics floating in a lush landscape with bentwood chairs \" class=\"wp-image-473510\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cStream\u201d (2026), oil on canvas, 107 x 137 centimeters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rohan6.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-473505\" title=\"\u201cThe Path\u201d (2025), oil on canvas, 152.5 x 183 centimeters\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cThe Path\u201d (2025), oil on canvas, 152.5 x 183 centimeters\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cThe Path\u201d (2025), oil on canvas, 152.5 x 183 centimeters\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1648\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rohan6.jpeg\" alt=\"a painting by Monica Rohan of a lush floral landscape with a bentwood chair\" class=\"wp-image-473511\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cThe Path\u201d (2025), oil on canvas, 152.5 x 183 centimeters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rohan-8.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-473505\" title=\"\u201cPrincess Street Garden\u201d (2025), oil on board, 70 x 100 centimeters\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cPrincess Street Garden\u201d (2025), oil on board, 70 x 100 centimeters\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cPrincess Street Garden\u201d (2025), oil on board, 70 x 100 centimeters\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1403\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rohan-8.jpeg\" alt=\"a painting by Monica Rohan of a lush floral landscape with a bentwood chair\" class=\"wp-image-473513\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cPrincess Street Garden\u201d (2025), oil on board, 70 x 100 centimeters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rohan-9.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-473505\" title=\"\u201cShould I Go Now,\u201d 78 x 64 centimeters\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cShould I Go Now,\u201d 78 x 64 centimeters\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cShould I Go Now,\u201d 78 x 64 centimeters\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2506\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rohan-9.jpeg\" alt=\"a painting by Monica Rohan of a lush floral landscape with two people enmeshed in the foliage\" class=\"wp-image-473514\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cShould I Go Now,\u201d 78 x 64 centimeters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rohan-10.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-473505\" title=\"\u201cView from the Street\u201d (2025), oil on board, 80 x 60 centimeters\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cView from the Street\u201d (2025), oil on board, 80 x 60 centimeters\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cView from the Street\u201d (2025), oil on board, 80 x 60 centimeters\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2651\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rohan-10.jpeg\" alt=\"a painting by Monica Rohan of a lush floral landscape with white dining chairs\" class=\"wp-image-473515\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cView from the Street\u201d (2025), oil on board, 80 x 60 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All photos by Jon Linkins, courtesy of Monica Rohan, shared with permission In Monica Rohan\u2019s Paintings, Tablecloths and Chairs Uncannily Perch in Remote Landscapes April 30, 2026 Art Grace Ebert Share Email Bookmark Home might be a mutable concept, but some objects retain the aura [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,270],"class_list":["post-1911336","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-thisiscolossal-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1911336","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1911336"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1911336\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1911336"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1911336"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1911336"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}