ARTIST STATEMENT
While this format cannot fully convey the experience of my artwork, I will endeavor to articulate its conceptual and practical essence. In a photograph, our perception is unable to rest within the work; its salient, pattern-seeking nature cannot function, leaving no space for our imagination to come into play. My work represents a new form of expression—radical and singular enough in concept to be a new art ‘ism’ within a traditional medium.
If you attempt to evaluate it through the lens of abstract expressionism, as many mistakenly do, it may seem nonsensical because there is no clear benchmark for comparison.
My approach builds upon the foundations of past artistic revolutions, such as Cubism and Abstract art, offering a new framework for visual and psychological exploration. This alone is an incredibly strong selling point. The Cubists had stop-motion films; we have virtual reality. I would label this expression as a new form of Surrealism—one that evolves a new way of seeing through a shift in perception.
The construct of this expression is a space, structure, and form where illusions originate. I refer to this space as a “substance” because it behaves more like a dynamic entity than a static image.
This “substance” is designed to form a relational dynamic—one of contemplative awareness and introspective exploration. Art is a record of careful observation. One aspect of my expertise is the ability to stare intensely at something and draw meaning from it. This, in turn, allows me, as an artist, to create a meditative space that effortlessly resonates with the viewer’s consciousness.
Although my work shares the psychological and visual trigger-like qualities of pareidolia, it is not the same. Pareidolia typically presents a mark or form structure that can be interpreted in two or three ways. My work, however, constructs space and form to create an indeterminate number of visual impressions.
A practical method of constructing this substance is placing areas of extreme depth adjacent to areas of foreground, allowing perception to switch the two extremes into their opposites. A layering of compositional structures, combined with the illusion of movement and multiple focal and vanishing points, contributes to this interchangeable perception of depth.
Our perception, in attempting to make sense of the composition through a best-guess scenario, generates illusions of space, while its salient nature fosters a visual dialogue.
I incorporate as much diversity as possible—expanding the vocabulary of mark-making and packing in a variety of information. I also create visual linkages and use optically vibrating colors to open space.
I have been creating as an artist my entire life, and I understand that you cannot separate an artwork from the way it is made. In light of this, I strive to give my entire being a voice by stepping aside. I “listen” to a dialogue of creative action—a form of meditation. The source is an unchanging awareness.
My passion as an artist is fueled by that ineffable human life force, which becomes embedded in the plasticity of the medium. I know it is there—it is locked into the painting. That animated spirit enters what was once inert matter.
This is where the true value of the artwork lies. It will be fully realized when the viewer experiences the subject—whether through meditative action or vision. The success of embodying this presence is what gives the art its true value.
In a sense, this expression creates an eternal form.
Apologies for the rushed nature of this artist statement. More writings can be found on my website at gavinjohnrisi.com.
