Environment Maker - Distinct Methodology
Title: Sholop
Medium: Acrylic Paint & Spraypaint
Size: 5030 square feet
Year: 2020/2021
Location: Redmond, Washington
Artist Assistants: Dennis Ryan Pekala, Bubba H., & Clark Allen
Project Manager: Denise Joseph - NINE dot ARTS
In Redmond, Washington, an extraordinary outdoor painting unfolds around a five-story building, encircling all four sides and even reaching onto a roof structure. This artwork seeks to grow beyond its immediate physical presence, evolving into a profound and enduring expression that resonates with those who experience it, be it on a daily basis or occasionally.
My vision revolved around the integration of the architectural characteristics and the material selection of the building's exterior, metamorphosing the structure into an "Inhabited Sculpture" - a living sculpture that is not only visually engaging but also serves as an environment for people to experience and explore. Designed with a long-term perspective, the artwork continuously unveils new dimensions, color combinations, and the interplay of light throughout the day and night, inspiring viewers to actively engage and explore its depths.
The creation of this contemporary painting and public art project centers on the abstraction of the composition, deriving inspiration from the realms of gesture and nature in terms of both technique and color palette. Upon application to the building's facade, the concept materializes as a series of expansive color waterfalls. The interweaving of hatch lines, distortions, and mechanical imperfections within the paint embodies the artist's emotions and energy, while the juxtaposition of colors and textures gives rise to a singular visual experience. The fusion of mechanical and gestural techniques gives birth to a dynamic, layered work that captivates the viewer through its chromatic and textural transitions, progressing from the cool, dark blues and violets at the base to the warm, light reds and oranges above.
This chromatic evolution elicits sensations of transformation and movement as the artwork shifts from cool to warm tones. The symbiotic merging of gestural and mechanical approaches imparts depth and intrigue to the artwork, forging a harmonious union between contemporary art and architecture in a captivating and thought-provoking opus.
Emerging from the foundation of cold, deep blues and violets, the colors ascend the facade, metamorphosing into warm reds and oranges as they lighten and rise toward the sky. Each line and color block is meticulously placed to contribute to a larger composition imbued with movement and energy.
My distinct methodology, informed by a background in prepress printing techniques, is manifest in this analog contemporary painting style. The artwork reflects a confluence of printing and painting, utilizing the width of the brushstroke as a gesture evocative of the printing process. The final piece invites exploration, as the artwork encompasses all four sides of the building, affording viewers the opportunity to examine it closely or from a distance, observing how the colors, lines, and gestures meld together. The result is an immersive environment and experience that transcends the limitations of a single surface, embodying the concept of an "Inhabited Sculpture."
