Curios About: Grotesque Beauty by Ciaran Bowen

Grotesque Beauty
By Ciaran Bowen
Acrylic, oil and silicone on canvas, 5.5in x 7.5in

1. This work is about . . . investigating the materiality of paint and how I can manipulate it in its raw state to make forms. The work raises questions about the concept of the traditional four-cornered canvas, and it attempts to push outside these constraints to question of what exactly painting is.

2. I make this work because . . . I want to investigate the relationship between painting and mediums which wouldn’t usually be associated with paint. By using these non-traditional mediums, such as silicone, glue and latex, by applying these materials in different manners, I can create a one-off piece that evolves in its own formless manner, which creates its own self of structure and motif.

3. I hope when people see this work they will . . . question the piece in terms of its identity in the art world. I want people to question the intention of the piece: is it attempting to be a sculpture or a painting? Or is it merely hanging in between these two practices?

4. In terms of art history, this work . . . falls under the expanded field of painting: anything goes, pushing boundaries.

5. You can see my work . . . on my website, Instagram, Twitter, and elsewhere.

Curios [sic] About is a series featuring works by Dublin artists, curated for us by our friends at the Square in the Circle blog, and hosted there as well as here.

Each artist is asked to submit an image of one work and answer a set of questions about it. We’d love it if you’d submit something you’ve made.