Nigel O’Neill
Recent Works
Artists Statement
Nigel O’Neill’s paintings consist of a number vibrant coloured planes. The shape of these planes evokes a perspective and illusionistic space on one hand. However this is undermined by the juxtaposition of different colours around a central plane. The different edges of this plane are pushed back or forward depending on the colour of juxtaposed planes. Therefore seemingly flat shapes appear to twist and flip back on themselves. This achieves a surface, which is simultaneously asserted and denied, undermining any logical or mathematical interpretation of the work.
This is complemented by the overall shape of the painting support that of a half circle and an ellipse, which share the same centre point. An illustionstic device in itself, evoking a sphere cut in half. Giving many opportunities for the interplay of spatially ambiguous planes.
Each painting achieves a compelling physical presence, through its ambiguous internal spatial relationships, and the shape of the painting support.
To facilitate the many enhancements and transformations to the colour which need to be made during the working process, without destroying the crispness of form or edge. the work is constructed from separate panels of birchfaced plywood.
Notes on the construction of the large paintings
Each separate colour is painted on an individual shaped panel of 6mm birch faced plywood. To achieve a very flat even surface artist’s acrylic paint is applied with a paint roller. These plywood panels are mounted onto a very thin hardboard backing board 2″ smaller than the painting using Velcro. This backing board is then screwed to the wall.
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