NEW ARTIST INTERVIEW: CHRISTOPHER SHAW | DegreeArt.com The Original Online Art Gallery

NEW ARTIST INTERVIEW: CHRISTOPHER SHAW

We came across Christopher's eerie dystopian oil paintings at this year's Free Range Show, where he was exhibiting his work with Leeds College of Art. Through his work Chris tries to make sense of the world, and his own place within it. We caught up with the artist to find out more. 

You state that your practice is largely influenced by the Sartrean proposition that “existence precedes essence”. Could you tell us a little bit more about what that means and how it has shaped your art?

Existential theory plays a strong role within my practice - creating my own meaning and ideologies about life builds the platform for my creative output. I want my paintings to reflect my individual essence and who I am as a person, pushing my character through the act of painting. My work focuses on exploring my existence and individual freedoms which in turn leads on to my experience, shown through my subject matter and aesthetic execution. My art always reflects what’s around me and what I experience at different parts of my life. Its always interesting to see what the future holds as this will inspire the forthcoming body of work.

Tell us about your process - how much research and preparatory work usually goes into creating a single painting?

It all starts with a singular idea, which may be so diluted by the end that it has no significance or presence at all in the final piece. I look for imagery that I feel is both current and timeless and collage them using a combination of digital manipulation drawing and painting.
This preparatory stage yields new meanings and interpretations and eventually leads to the creation of the final painting in oil.
I enjoy the way my process fuses contemporary methods such as Photoshop with traditional techniques. I feel that working this way allows me endless possibilities.

Trapped, 80 x 80 x 3 cm, £3,200

Your subject matter is often dark and unsettling. Could you explain what draws you to explore the human condition through a sinister lens?

I feel that as an artist I have to approach my subject with an honesty that becomes visceral and instinctive. I want to provoke the viewer to experience an emotive reaction to my work, develop some kind of relationship with it. I have found that when approached correctly sinister imagery doesn’t just make a statement but it also makes people question what we can and can’t see. Looking at the world from one angle would become naïve so it’s my job to break down the assumptions put in place creating my own visual representation of existence.

You talk a lot about the importance of oil as a medium for you. What is it about working in oils that you prefer to any other medium?

Firstly oils allow me to express and explore my subject best, and I have always had a more successful out come than other mediums I have experimented with.

Secondly the two dimensional space of the canvas can become detached from the world as within that space there are no limitations, boundaries or forces which tell you what you can and cant do. This becomes a window of opportunity expressing another world or dimension. Oils allow for the work not to become stagnant, giving me the opportunity to fuse different approaches and techniques such as, Photo-realism, abstraction and glazing, which then becomes my own individual style and input on the world of painting.

Gangway84 x 120 x 3 cm, £2,150

Aside from existential theory, is there an overarching narrative that links your paintings together? If so, what is it?

I would say that my work does have a narrative aspect to it, however for me it isn’t dictated by the work itself but by the viewer, the painting only inspires the prospect of a narrative for the individual. Each viewer interprets the imagery differently, so I prefer to not anchor. This way the dialogue can always change and become more interesting as more people see my paintings.

Now that you’ve graduated how are you planning to develop your practice beyond university?

I have left university with an informed understanding of myself and my practice allowing me to push my ideologies and methodologies to the next level. I want to create an exciting range of new works, at a larger scale than I’ve worked at previously, and with a deeper intellectual approach to my chosen subject matter.
I aspire to become more established as a painter and earn my place within the art world.

To see more of Christopher's work, browse his portfolio here. For any enquiries contact isobel@degreeart.com

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