The word ‘shakkei’ (sha’’ kay) is Chinese in origin and formed by two words coming together 借 (borrow) and 景 (scenery, view). Dating back to the 17th Century, the concept of ‘borrowed scenery’ in principle was incorporating background landscape into the composition of a garden thus enhancing the overall aesthetic. Inspired by Michael's travels through Asia and Europe, this luminous collection enhances the beauty of nature's palette, blurring the lines between memory and reality.

​

Rumsby’s second London solo show demonstrates a rapid growth in maturity with a collection of work that is bold, considered, and unafraid to celebrate the joy he clearly finds in the scenes he remembers, binding them together with a palpable energy that exudes happiness. The narrative of the works explores how the human mind chooses to remember the past, often enhancing, or exaggerating reality to create a source of comfort or validation.​