Artist Statement

My paintings combine the traditional aspects of oil painting and sculpture with the modern kinetic elements of digital video. My intention is through the literal combination multiple disparate medias to create an active 4 dimensional painting. The artistic painting process lies at the heart of what interests me most. Through the use of stop action time-lapse video I document a specific section of a painting and feed the edited video directly back into the painting. This results in a weaving of the video, physical space and painted elements to form a unique and dynamic visual experience. The strategy of the self documented process simultaneously becomes the subject matter and the subject. This not only questions paintings traditional role but also combines the old illusionary enlightenment tools, painting and sculpture, with the new reality of video.

In creating the actual relationship between the painting, sculpture, and video, I physically inlay an LCD monitor into the surface of my pieces. It is important that the three elements combine in a homogenous seamless manner. My intention is to create a relatively equal relationship between the multiple contrasting mediums. Through the use of video, I have the ability to modulate the spatial depth, control the velocity and compose a wide variety of visual movement while simultaneously communicating the artistic process.

With my most recent paintings I have expanded beyond a flat 2-D plane to a sculpted 3-D surface. My intention is to explore four dimensions simultaneously and combine sculpted, physical movement with the illusionary effect of digital movement. The end results in the blurring of the viewers perception between video/painting, actual/artificial space and the physical effects of time.

I hope my work continues to evolve with the technology and the moment. Ultimately it is my intention to combine the latest technology available to the timeless hand of traditional painting and sculpture, carrying each forward, and examining the limits, strengths and weaknesses that make this all fascinating.

Ben Marxen