"In the newly opened North Wing of the Art Gallery of NSW lies a quote: “If you paint everything but the figure, the figure will emerge.” The quote pertains to a painting by the American artist Reggie Burrows Hodges, depicting two faceless figures surrounded by objects of their domestic life. The quote’s suggestion, that the faces of the two ambiguous characters in his moody portrait are realised by virtue of their context, is relevant too in the survey of landscapes that Paul Maher has brought together for Window on a City. Emphasising the constancy of the natural world against the fluctuating interiors of historical Hunter buildings, Window on a City explores the contrasting moods of interior and exterior, and grapples with tension between the natural and the man-made. However, also brought to the fore throughout the exhibition is a speculation of character. Whilst we feast our eyes upon sumptuous seascapes, richly adorned windows and busy domestic spaces, our gaze is simultaneously directed away from scenery and towards the person just out of view. We are prompted to delve into our imaginations and consider the histories, complexities, and mundanities of the lives lived behind the frame - the figures obscured from the canvas."