top of page

MICHELLE HENRY
Song of Songs​
2012 - 2014
Song of Songs is a series of paintings of a single anthurium plant at various stages of flowering. The title of each painting is taken from a line of erotic verse written circa 900BC which traces the journey of a pair of lovers from courtship to consummation. This verse from the Old Testament is a perfect fit for the paintings which use the colour and composition of the anthurium as metaphor for love and lust.
Click image to enlarge
![]() Song of Songs 1.2Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth - for thy love is better than wine. Oil on Canvas, 24" x 36", 2013 | ![]() Song of Songs 2.6Let his left hand be under my head, and his right hand embrace me. Oil on Canvas, 40" x 40", 2014 |
---|---|
![]() Song of Songs 2.14O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock… Oil on Canvas, 24" x 36", 2013 | ![]() Song of Songs 3.1By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth; I sought him, but I found him not. Oil on Canvas, 24" x 36", 2013 |
![]() Song of Songs 3.2…I will seek him whom my soul loveth… Oil on Canvas, 16" x 32", 2012 | ![]() Song of Songs 3.4I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him and would not let him go… Oil on Canvas, 24" x 36", 2013 |
![]() Song of Songs 4.1Behold, thou art fair my love… Oil on Canvas, 40" x 40", 2014 | ![]() Song of Songs 4.7Thou art all fair, my love; and there is no spot in thee. Oil on Canvas, 18" x 36" 2012 |
![]() Song of Songs 4.9Thou hast ravished my heart. Oil on Canvas, 24" x 36" 2013 | ![]() Song of Songs 4.10How fair is thy love…how much better is thy love than wine! Oil on Canvas' 40" x 40", 2014 |
![]() Song of Songs 4.11Thy lips, O my bride, drop honey - honey and milk are under thy tongue… Oil on Canvas, 30" x 40", 2013 | ![]() Song of Songs 4.16Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his precious fruits. Oil on Canvas 24" x 36" 2012 |
![]() Song of Songs 5.5I rose up to open to my beloved… Oil on Canvas' 24" x 36" 2013 | ![]() Song of Songs 5.16His mouth is sweet; yea, he is altogether comely. This is my beloved and this is my friend… Oil on Canvas, 24" x 36", 2014 |
![]() Song of Songs 6.3I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine… Oil on Canvas, 40" x 40", 2013 | ![]() Song of Songs 8.1When I should find the without, I would kiss thee. Oil on Canvas, 24" x 36" 2013 |
![]() Song of Songs 8.2aI would lead thee…that thou mightest instruct me… Oil on Canvas, 40" x 40", 2014 | ![]() Song of Songs 8.2bI would cause thee to drink of spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranate. Oil on Canvas, 24" x 36"' 2013 |
![]() Song of Songs 8.3His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me. Oil on Canvas, 24" x 36", 2013 | ![]() Song of Songs 8.6…for love is strong as death, jealousy is cruel as the grave… Oil on Canvas, 24" x 36", 2014 |
![]() Song of Songs 8.7Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it… Oil on Canvas, 24" x 36", 2013 | ![]() Song of Songs 8.14Make haste, my beloved… Oil on Canvas, 24" x 36", 2013 |
![]() Song of Songs ExhibitionInstallation View, Graydon Gallery, Brisbane, April 2014 | ![]() Song of Songs ExhibitionInstallation View, Graydon Gallery, Brisbane, April 2014 |
![]() Song of Songs ExhibitionInstallation View, Graydon Gallery, Brisbane, April 2014 | ![]() Song of Songs ExhibitionInstallation View, Graydon Gallery, Brisbane, April 2014 |
bottom of page