James Brown
Perceptions II

MARKART5
Introducing

January 8th - February 1st, 2009
Official Reception Thursday, January 8th, 2009, 6-8p.m.

James Brown

James Brown, The Information, 50" x 110", Oil on Linen

The works in ‘Perceptions II’ build upon my exploration of the concept of truth outside of individual perception.  They supplement my previous work by exploring new ways of perceiving and processing sensory information.  The neurological phenomenon of Synesthesia, in which the triggering of one cognitive pathway leads to an automatic involuntary stimulation of a second cognitive pathway, illustrates how the same information can lead to radically different imprints on the brain and how we react to the stimulus.  Although this rare phenomenon is usually described as hearing color, or seeing sound, there is theoretically no limitation to how information ranging from light, touch, smell, or electromagnetic waves could illicit radically different realities for different people, yet still be the same recordable innate thing.  

In `Perceptions II` I continue to explore shutting down the processing of basic senses, and as a result, filter out preconditioned interpretation of the information and instead reflect the base impressions on my brain when confronted with emotion, circumstance, or the physical.  It’s not that the senses are truly shut down, or I would only see a brown blur on the canvas.  Rather, I shut down the part of my senses that interprets and tries to classify the information I receive, and then attempt to perfect the senses as a tool for recreation of those perceptions.  

My goal in this process and these works is to capture intrinsic patterns, forms, and colors that are the building blocks of existence, whether physical or intangible, transient or eternal, to help better understand the world around me.  My work at its best is simply a mirror, which does not attempt to suggest or pass judgment, but simply reflects the raw data coming into my brain.  It is up to the observer to decide whether it is of value or meaning to them.  For me, it simply is.

This show includes a number of previously un-exhibited paintings completed over the last three years, showing a variety of palettes and approaches to translating raw perceptions to physical imagery.  All small steps in a growing body of work reflecting my continuing quest to question everything, believe nothing, yet maintain a stability in life by recognizing which things are innately true, and which things are a matter of preference, opinion, or misinterpretation. 

MARKART5

MARKART5, Scotomata, 60" x 144", Oil & Graphite on Canvas

I paint with the basic belief that I can capture buried elements in our life experience.  These elements form structures that connect people together with each other and with the objects they have interaction with.  To reveal is to find the intrigue.  In my interest, my work must be transferable to the viewer due to the shared themes presented.  With successful revelation of these elements in my work, the visual image is set up to cause a flood tide of emotion with thinking being sparked to assimilate the initial reaction. The images created provide a bridge for the exchange of deeper-felt sentiments, seldom spoken.  With obsessive discipline and a search for extended meaning, each brush stroke is purposed to carve out something that helps us feel and have insight about many aspects of life that are difficult to express.  I wish to rid ourselves of the shallow lands from the daily grind, one moment at a time.

Aside from the deeper elemental focus in my work, the painting surface and necessary techniques to create the work are crucial.  In this discipline, new painting has arisen with heightened compositional forms that find significance for the works appraisal. 

My main impetus is to provide a hammer and chisel to our thoughts and let it settle down into the heart.

MarkArt5
Interview: Kevin Watson [S.A.T.U.S.A.  Corporation]
February 6th 2008