When looking at historical paintings I've recognized that there exists three narratives around each particular painting that influences how I (and we all) now view the work. Firstly, there's the story involving the artists original intention and the context in which the painting was produced. Secondly, there may be an additional story of the status, providence and value the painting may have accrued over time. And finally, how perhaps notorious or sensational biographical details of an artist’s life, can in the present, influence how their painting is received. My paintings are an attempt to upend these stories by interrupting these preconceived narratives.

By plucking an historically painted figure from its original environment and plopping it into an entirely new painterly world I hope to create an opening, a frisson in which to allow the viewer to see what is already known in an altogether different way. And although the appropriated figure, depending on the strength of any one of the aforementioned stories may carry some of its old meaning with it like a stink, I'm hoping that the juxtaposition of the past with the present and the collision of styles in paint are jarring enough to allow these images to be seen anew.



(This statement also applies to the series of paintings Before Sound and Before Sound "round again )