MARLENE CAPELL
Marlene Capell's recent abstract paintings refer to remnants of ancient structures as the source for her compositions. Much like ancient archeological sites, the canvases reflect the passages and process of time as the surfaces are built up with paint, layer over layer, obliterating and reworking, concealing the past but leaving hints of what came before. Ultimately, it is this evidence of the painting process that becomes the focal point of her paintings.
Capell says of her work, " I visualize these paintings as a reflection of life as well as a connection to our ancient beginnings and other cultures throught time. I begin by building non-objective architectonic forms, which evolve from my fascination with Stonehenge and Lion Gate of Mycenae. I use a specific kind of formal structure to provide order out of the vast multitude of available choices. Rather then perceptually rendering or recreating the appearance of these monolithic structures, working non-objectively allows me to speculate, change and uncover.
Just as each civilization is built upon the structure of previous ones, I believe our lives are a process of building one experience upon another. As many of these paintings are painted over previous ones, revealing the history of themselves, they become a metaphor for growth and evolution. For me this is also the exchange between the careful rational mind and the desire for spontaneity and a measure of surprise. The challenge becomes just how much freedom I can allow myself.
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Portal XIV, 2006 Oil on Canvas 40" x 40"
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Portal VII, 2006 Oil on Canvas 20" x 16"
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Portal IX, 2006 Oil on Canvas 20" x 20"
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Portal V, 2006 Oil on Canvas 20" x 16"
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Portal XIII, 2005-06 Oil on Canvas 36" x 36"
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Portal XIII, 2004-06 Oil & Parchment Paper on Canvas 20" x 20"
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Portal IV, 2003-06 Oil-Wax on Canvas 20" x 16"
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Portal VIII, 2006 Oil on Canvas 16" x 14"
Marlene Capell's recent abstract paintings refer to remnants of ancient structures as the source for her compositions. Much like ancient archeological sites, the canvases reflect the passages and process of time as the surfaces are built up with paint, layer over layer, obliterating and reworking, concealing the past but leaving hints of what came before. Ultimately, it is this evidence of the painting process that becomes the focal point of her paintings.
Capell says of her work, " I visualize these paintings as a reflection of life as well as a connection to our ancient beginnings and other cultures throught time. I begin by building non-objective architectonic forms, which evolve from my fascination with Stonehenge and Lion Gate of Mycenae. I use a specific kind of formal structure to provide order out of the vast multitude of available choices. Rather then perceptually rendering or recreating the appearance of these monolithic structures, working non-objectively allows me to speculate, change and uncover.
Just as each civilization is built upon the structure of previous ones, I believe our lives are a process of building one experience upon another. As many of these paintings are painted over previous ones, revealing the history of themselves, they become a metaphor for growth and evolution. For me this is also the exchange between the careful rational mind and the desire for spontaneity and a measure of surprise. The challenge becomes just how much freedom I can allow myself.
RETURN TO ARTISTS
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