David McDonald
Eduardo Carrillo Prize in Painting 2007 Nominee
View Paintings by David McDonald
Artist Statement
John Cage once remarked the purpose of art was to imitate nature in its manner of operation. I take this to mean that all the processes that one finds in nature should be brought to bear on ones art. Time, decay, history, regeneration, chaos, order, outside forces, accumulation, and destruction are all part of the processes of nature and therefore of art. Once a piece is done it should be a perfect reflection of itself, it's meaning deriving from its own existence and positioning in the world. Paint is paint, wood is wood, color is color, etc. Of course people bring many outside references to all of these elements but ultimately the piece must exist for itself, on its own terms.
In my paintings I try to work line to line, moment to moment. Each line or area is put on for itself, the overall composition appears as a result of these cumulative moments. A piece is done when all the elements are in such equilibrium that the parts no longer matter. They must function as fragments and wholes simultaneously. Each section or line contains the whole and vice versa. The meaning of the work lies in the understanding of contradiction, this leaves one only with what is present.
View Paintings by David McDonald