My practice presently entertains a contradiction between the inviting intimacy of human tactility and the alienating effects of optical extremes, a continuous observation of polarity between the divergent worlds of touch and sight. Through an automatic, yet meditative process, each dot is individually and freely depicted using a low viscosity acrylic paint, bringing forth a mechanical motif. By way of its fluidity, however, the paint becomes a medium capable of registering the slightest of movements, intentional and accidental – a tremor of the hand, a pause for breath, a sudden, energetic impulse; such glimmers of life and motion are embraced and preserved within sporadic traces of paint across the surface of the canvas. In fusion with rich, vibrant, or fluorescent tones, these charged networks of dots are enfolded by a permanent membrane of high gloss varnish, suspending the work in a dynamic tension between graphic uniformity and sentient gesture.
This exhibition consists of four paintings journeying through unique states of haptic and visual intensity. Each work is carefully positioned to mirror the body – it does not intend to threaten or overwhelm the viewer, but instead, strives to welcome and absorb them into a moment of aesthetic captivation. The impact of the motif radiates towards the body and impresses an afterimage upon the eyes, striving to induce a hypnotic and grounding state of amplified, physical sensation.
Helen Walsh | Fine Art
