artist statement
I am interested in issues surrounding urbanism: sustainability, density, light pollution, public transit and public space. In my artistic practice, my current focus is aerial views of cities at night: exploring the paradoxical beauty of these dazzling organisms and the issues of urban sprawl and light pollution.
Looking at cities from this unusual perspective, I enjoy the play between abstraction and representation. While accuracy is important when depicting major roads, waterways and landforms, I believe the works must stand on their own as abstract paintings.
I work with a palette knife to build up layers of acrylic paint. Allowing layers to show through imbues the work with a sense of movement. I mix numerous shades and tints within a narrow colour range to give the work subtlety, depth and glow.
The supports are custom made from high grade Baltic birch plywood. Gallery-depth edges showing the dense plies enhance the industrial, designed feel of the work.
I have been influenced by Edward Burtynsky, Gerhard Richter, Pierre Soulages, Jean-Paul Riopelle, Paul Emile Borduas, Otto Donald Rogers, Janet Cardiff.
