In ‘Alice’s Absence’, Melbourne-based artist Philippe Le Miere vividly re-imagines Charles Blackman’s iconic Alice in Wonderland universe - minus the guest of honour. Rendered with Le Miere’s characteristically delicious heightened palette, the work transforms familiar, whimsical tea-party iconography into a vibrant, texturally rich presence, suspended between domesticity, memory and myth.

With a title that knowingly winks at the psychological space of the original narrative, Le Miere draws compelling parallels between Blackman's mid-century modernism and contemporary post-pop sensibilities. By removing the figure of Alice entirely, the artist allows the everyday tabletop props - the delightfully oversized teacups, the tipping teapot, and the exuberant floral arrangements - to stage their own coup, becoming the sole vessels of meaning. In his vision, the Mad Hatter's domestic setup dissolves into a rich, dreamlike vista that seems to vibrate with a quiet, surreal energy.

Balancing cheeky homage with clever reinvention, ‘Alice’s Absence’ reflects Le Miere's ongoing fascination with the ways art historical lineages are constructed, remembered and playfully reinterpreted across generations. For collectors of Philippe Le Miere, modern Australian art legacies and contemporary still life with a twist, this work is a compelling discovery.

This work is a pochoir (posh-waar) print. Emerging in late nineteenth-century Paris, pochoir printmaking involves layering and hand-colouring each component of the image. This unmechanized process gives each edition its own ‘aura’ while requiring significant time and skill. By the 1930s, pochoir had largely faded with the rise of more efficient, mechanized printing techniques. Master printmaker Jeffrey Makin was the first to connect Le Miere's experimental process with this nearly forgotten early twentieth-century practice. Subtle disturbances in the painted surface, with elements slightly misregistered, enhance its textural appeal. Once embraced by Matisse and Picasso, pochoir is now revived by Le Miere, uniting art and craftsmanship to imbue each piece with the essence of an original painting.

Philippe LE MIERE (1975 - )
'Alice's absence' 2026
acrylic on paper
Edition of 20
Image Size: 26 x 34 cm
Dimensions: 30 x 42 cm
Signed: Signed, titled and editioned in margin
Comes with Letter of Provenance
Condition: Excellent
(c) The Artist or Assignee