beyond the looking glass
My work is inspired by urban landscapes and the imperfection that emerges through time and nature.
This exhibit was a journey that began in the three dimensional world inspired by a mundane stack of discarded packing paper. Sculptural in form, the evolution of the imagery to a two dimensional concept and back again is transformational. It reminded me of Wabi-sabi the Japanese aesthetic and a world view centered on acceptance of transience and imperfection; beauty imperfect, impermanent and incomplete.
I captured the moment in digital form preserving the temporary sculpture. Compelled to further explore and deconstruct this imagery in an abstracted version, I engaged in digital manipulation and collage. The infusion of minimalistic shapes referencing rocks or organic forms were incorporated to further reference nature in this synthetic process. Always interested in the exploration of new materials, the completed images were printed with UV ink on polyester mesh and stretched over reflective Mylar. The idea was to further manipulate the image by reflecting light and enhancing the textural quality of the flat surface.
The end result created an optical illusion and the paintings look as if they are wrapped in a clear plastic film. The addition of circular, neon light tubes emphasize the reflective quality of the painting while infusing artificial light and referencing life, infinity and the continuous evolution of the world that surrounds us. It’s a material conjuring of sorts and playful metaphor to Alice’s journey through Wonderland as if peering through a looking glass into a dream like modern world of illusion.
“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn’t.” Alice in Wonderland
© Joey Brock 2017