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You are invited to discover the work of
Chris Millette
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Cosmus |
May 14 - June 8
Artist Reception May 14, 5-8pm
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Self-Portrait |
Chris Millette is a young printmaker, painter, sculptor and designer currently residing in Northampton, MA. He received his BFA from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 2008. From 2008-2010 Chris lived and worked in Italy where he painted murals and was commissioned to make several sculptures. Chris is currently working on large woodcut prints, mixed-media paintings, and a series of wooden lamps from found materials.
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Mythology |
On the Figure and Abstraction
The abstracted figure has been a recurrent theme in my paintings for quite some time. It is important to me that these figures are not fully realized. I want there to be a level of anonymity to them. I think of them as archetypes: they embody different qualities of humanity. They do not represent individuals. Nor do they represent 'real' humans. Their proportions are anatomically incorrect. Some have too many or too few limbs. The colors of their skin are far from realistic. The figures are abstractions, yet only to a certain degree. They still retain enough information to be called 'figures'.
I have often wondered why I toy with abstraction in this way. Shouldn't I choose between figure painting and abstract painting? Wouldn't that lend my work more credibility, more value? Ultimately, though, I realized that I am not interested exclusively in abstract painting, nor in figure painting.
What excites me about painting is the opportunity to create, explore, and imagine whole worlds. It is the alchemy of the paint - the application of a brush stroke that can contain an idea, define a discourse, or challenge a whole worldview - that captivates me. Painting is a practice in cosmologizing; in finding meaning in the smallest of details, and expanding these ideas to their all-encompassing ends.
Painting for me is defining a world. This world is not clear, nor is it static. It is flowing, changing, abstracted, re-envisioned. Constantly. It is this world in flux that I hope to capture.
And how else can I relate to this world except as a human - as a body - as a figure?
Chris Millette
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