Art Statement
In the shadow of Metaphor
My work comes out of my desire to create something where I would be unrecognizable. This comes from seeing good ideas fail. This inability to escape implosion is not the fault of the idea but rather the need for identity. The creative act that people go through when they are rewriting what they experienced escapes this. At this moment is the place of my work.
My vision is to continue the tradition of adding to the visual language that created new forms to interpret the world. This is created outside the self-consciousness removed from its history. The act of creating is not subjective nor is the viewer responses. There is a space where we create weather we write, paint or understand. This is place where I see myself.
By use familiar visual forms like the face, body and the relation of space to them. Creates recognition in the audience of the forms or language engages them immediately. Being drawn natural in to reinterpret for themselves the image presented. Focusing them on the moment before recognition they create something new for themselves.
The hardest part about comparing one’s work over time is dealing with self-doubt that nothing has changed. If you are constantly immersed the question has many sides. Is my vision being realized are my paintings getting better, or they better at realizing my vision. It is easier to compare my work before my last hiatus. This work did not take the risk of destroying that immediate energy which can be lost then be found again as the work progresses. They remained as quick sketch that at the time seemed enough.
Is there a part for my art to play in the contemporary art scene. By its simple fact that it exists it has a potential place. It is inside and out at the same time. There is a clear tradition in my work but no longer do Greek myths inform its content. The past has provided us with vast amount of images which the present seems only to regurgitate. The meaning has become so distorted that to find meaning is foolhardy. To be outside this. The image is treated like colour which is layered mixed. Invoking some sense or understanding.
The history context to my art is in reaction to history at the moment. It has become repetition rather than imagination. Reusing images placed in different contexts claiming movement or difference. Rejects this shorter and shorter repetition that is now history. Rather striving for to again lengthening time by presenting meaningful moments of paused. Created through our shared understanding of our relation to each other.
The inspiration for my work is from what is seen not see and has been seen. But ideas are formalized on line where there is a wealth of images where they are cropped, cut, pasted and recreate. The idea of projects or series began to appear as my work progressed it became apparent they were developing natural. Along the lines of relation of the subjects to each other or the environment they were placed.
The influences of other artists on my work would be extensive and of little use. There is something that can be stolen from them all. The richest time is when their rebellion from the expected norm. Clearly seen when art was controlled by very formal institution. Not much to pilfer at the moment.
The artists of the past as they have taught us to see. Each movement in art has shown new way to understand the visual world. Continue this tradition and create new way of seeing in your history is all there is. Where my place in this history will be like it will take time to see.
My painting technique seem to mirror me practical and impatient. The palette knife is easy to clean but can spread paint fast to lay down ideas quickly in the sketch phases and layering of colour rather than mixing. Using latex paint for its low order and simple cleanup but it also dries fast. Board can be painted on after a couple of coat of gesso and with profile under ½ inch it stores well but can take abuse that comes from fast movement with the knife. This is not to say that I will never pick up a brush or use oil based paint again as they were my first medium.
My work is sketched out in paint there is no pencilled image to colour in. Painting is colour with has undefined edges that is defined as you work proceeds. It should not be there when you start as then you work toward a goal. Allowing room to discovery through the materials where the edge should be. Most often working from reference material of photo. Searching for images can create ideas and also help to complete them. Often look for ideas the day before starting or going through photos put away years ago. Ideas behind my painting is often unclear at the beginning and at their end. There is always a gap that’s left when describe the visual with the written word.
The world is full of visual information each images has potential story. Creating a language that has no dictionary definitions or country of origin. In this space the visual artist exists. Faced with how to create. In a world where we are massaged by images it is hard not to be derivative. Where idea of new or radical is simply marketing trend. Where meaning is co-oped by advertisers to sell fragmenting further. There is no longer clear line to react to where tradition that could be rejected. To create in this you need to reject yourself become unrecognizable. The artist is simply another image that has been fragmented by selling itself its own past. Where the childish idea of placing images out of context is seen as meaningful rather than simply the continuation of the massage. The self-conscious artist is derivative as there is no longer past to react to. My responses to concentrate on the gape or space that is at the edge of are emotion. Using recognizable images of every day. To focus on what is there that is forgotten.
The world is full of visual information each images has potential story. Creating a language that has no dictionary definitions or country of origin. In this space the visual artist exists. Faced with how to create. In a world where we are massaged by images it is hard not to be derivative. Where idea of new or radical is simply marketing trend. Where meaning is co-oped by advertisers to sell fragmenting further. There is no longer clear line to react to where tradition that could be rejected. To create in this you need to reject yourself become unrecognizable. The artist is simply another image that has been fragmented by selling itself its own past. Where the childish idea of placing images out of context is seen as meaningful rather than simply the continuation of the massage. The self-conscious artist is derivative as there is no longer past to react to. My responses to concentrate on the gape or space that is at the edge of are emotion. Using recognizable images of every day. To focus on what is there that is forgotten.
Art Chris Dale 