Michael Muir likes to leave the viewer to interpret the meaning in his paintings. By breaking down the imagery into large shapes and simplified forms, Muir's approach allows for a closer examination of the subject. His paintings document his own observation of people and places yet the sense of detachment allows the viewer to see for themselves. 2010 METRO PRIZE FINALIST "A strong sense of light and colour is paramount. At the core I am also trying to find that universal quality when in early childhood we make the distinction between representation and imagination. It is at the point of understanding of our representative world that I choose to simplify the forms within my paintings.” The continued use of broad flat planes of colour give the landscapes a different sense of reality in which there is a perception of simplicity. The implication of an underlying narrative remains within the work." "...I feel that by breaking down the image into larger shapes I can simplify things in order to get closer to my subject. However elements of what makes us individuals is the privateness of our thoughts as we move about our daily lives. It is this distance and sense of detatchment that is prevalent. Faceless and anonymous, sometimes I think I can see beyond the surface. It's only fleeting." Michael Muir