Robin Best b. 1953, Australia

"The subject of my painting is history, and more especially the history of European trade and its association with scientific discovery and its attendant cross-cultural links with Asia and the New World. Fuelling the rampant success of world trade was the appetite of the European for exotic foods and spices and luxury goods from China in the form of silk, porcelain, lacquer ware and jade. India would supply pepper and a store of treasures in the form of precious gems and glorious printed cottons."