Trellis 1962

Jeremy Moon created this painting, Trellis, sometime before his untimely death in 1973. As part of the British abstract art scene, Moon’s work exists within a post-war context of reconstruction and new social ideals. Here, a yellow background is overlaid with a grid of white lines punctuated by black circles, which come together in a visually arresting composition. The geometric shapes create a sense of order and simplicity, reflecting the modernist values which were then in vogue, yet it is also possible to read the work as an engagement with the growing unease around the perceived rigidity of modern life. While the hard lines of the trellis may evoke the boundaries of urban planning, the bright yellow reminds us of the organic, suggesting a harmonious balance between the built environment and the natural world. In its formalism, "Trellis" thus captures the tensions and aspirations of a society in transition, inviting us to reflect on our own place within these ever-shifting structures.