While all of Austin’s work contains an element of the botanical, this piece in particular borders on the insectoidal. The bauplan of a dragonfly’s wings, or four pine beetles facing off in the center come to mind. The aetherial blue and black clouded by white and red place it somewhere above firm ground.

We have here as in many of her works (such as Boreal IX) the clear indication of four cardinal directions, here represented by circular shapes that resemble moons in texture and color. The dotted matrix present in the background of the center area is intriguing. It suggests a sort of mystic scaffolding, joined in places by intersecting lines that follow a particular order.

There is much to ponder with Marquee, and much that will, by design, remain unknown.