Idiosyncratic Observations
A selection of new paintings and works on paper that explores the connection between Heidegger and contemporary realist painting.
In the history of western philosophy, two schools of thought characterize our examination of reality. The first is a reductionist / materialist conception where reality is conceived of as the sum of things contained within the world. The second is a metaphysical / spiritual conception, where reality extends beyond the realm of matter. In stark contrast, Martin Heidegger's,profound treatise, 'Being and Time' offers a very different way of thinking about the problem. For Heidegger, the problem is not just an ontological one, his examination argues, that for us, our sense of reality is constituted through the things and activities that we invest with value, rather than just things that exist in physical space or spirituality. For the individual, this is an empowering notion because we become active participants in our realities—not just casual observers.
In my proposed exhibition, 'Idiosyncratic Observations,' I set forth in defining this sense of empowerment within the context of painting. By restricting my approach to observation and mark making, my aim is to exhibit works that explore how the observational painting of everyday objects and people can apply new meanings, and potentially transform something ordinary into something extraordinary, in a sense, a kind of Heideggerian world.
Thus, the central premise underpinning this project is—how does investing value, through painting, reveal certain idiosyncrasies of being-in-the-world? Throughout this journey, several layers of meaning immediately emerges, such as, the relationship between interiority and exteriority, reality and illusion, ability and fallibility and of course, the purpose and relevance of painting in Contemporary Art.
I intend to show the idiosyncrasies of this outcome and reveal a world where beauty and authenticity is derived from the clumsiness of the hand, rather than, the perfection of mechanical reproduction. By prioritizing the authenticity of experience over the illustration of theory 'Idiosyncratic Observations,' presents a world where the ordinary becomes extraordinary.
James Ratsasane August, 2009.