Why Abstraction and Why Now?

My recent work has progressed from narrative representational pieces that involve the figure to images devoid of any moment in time or theme. This development is perhaps a reaction to current experiences in life or a natural progression, I am not entirely sure.

To some measure abstraction or non-objective works allow for distance between my personal experiences and view of the world. Visual art for me has always been a format of expression and communicating ideas or experiences. This cathartic work also takes a toll on one’s psyche. In some ways abstraction allows me to distance myself from the marks I make. Yet all the formal qualities of line, form and composition still pervade my practice.

The development of patterned drawings, which I started just over a year ago seem to have been a watershed moment in my creative life. I could make marks for the sake of just drawing, however soon the figure emerged once again and the narratives began to flow back into my work. At times I feel that I am wrestling with two distinctly different paths. Yet this transition has nothing to do with reinventing myself or looking for what might be commercially viable. I create works as an extension of myself and my concerns.

Picasso was an accomplished “academic” artist long before he began his abstracted works and lived in an age that questioned the purpose of art, in the face of technology that made documenting our world more accessible. Matisse proclaimed that we must know the rules before we break them. Abstraction allows the lay person an outlet and the confidence to be creative, but not all abstraction is equal in its effectiveness. Many tend to dismiss Jackson Pollock’s’ artwork as something anyone can do, yet so often I have seen failed attempts to capture his understanding of gestural mark making found in his paintings, drips seem to pervade so many abstract paintings.

For this reason, I have in the past intentionally avoided creating abstraction. All the experiences of the years of the creative pursuit and refining my skill have led me to this cross road. Creating compelling abstraction is not an easy feat.

These abstracted forms are meditative in some respect, they begin as gestures of line that create shapes that are then filled using a limited colour scheme. I am creating forms through the application of the drawing medium whether it is just graphite or coloured pencil. It’s almost like a dance between my gestures and the substrate and these forms evolve into anthropomorphic objects. I am not sure how long this path will continue. But in an effort to evolve and not to pigeon hole myself or appear to be a one trick pony I will continue to explore this approach for now.