A New Architecture
I originally studied graphic design at university in Camberwell College of Art in the 90’s, where I was exposed to structural form ideas of modernism such as Swiss and International Style. For our visual communication work, we were drawing on the ideas of brutalism and being honest about the media we were using. Being inspired by the natural beauty of concrete as a utilitarian space. The grids, hierarchy and negative spaces of architecture were looked at as masterpieces of design that could influence all aspects of life. Of course, this had a significant impact on my early career design work in web and interfaces, but it has also started to creep into my painting work. The difference now is that I think about how those modernist spaces impact us emotionally and psychologically. How the raw concrete forms reflect us socially and how the human form contrasted with these spaces can generate a conversation about experience. So I have a series of paintings that incorporate these spaces. I battle with the perfect true line in a chaotic painting, but these structural forms seem to provide spaces of colour that contrast the chaos and help to lead the eye through the narrative of the work.
Ascension, 2022, 130x100cm, acrylic on canvas.
Patience Shared, 2022, 130x100cm, acrylic on canvas.
Solace Formed, 2022, 130x100cm, acrylic on canvas.
Quiet Thoughts, 2022, 130x100cm, acrylic on canvas.
Threshold, 2022, 130x100cm, acrylic on canvas.
Opera Dawn, 2021, 130x100cm, acrylic on canvas.