I make art out of a desire to see things differently. Familiar shapes and colors can combine in unexpected ways. The everyday world suddenly becomes mysterious again. My paintings are therefore invitations to experience a gestalt switch, not just visually, but also conceptually. I mean this in the sense of a paradigm shift, such as understanding multiple sides of an issue, or gaining a new perspective on things.
Tetrachromacy is the ability to see four dimensions of color. Birds, fish, and reptiles are tetrachromats while humans only have three types of cone cells and so sense a narrower spectrum of light. Compared to these species, we humans are color blind. Can we compensate for this lack, not necessarily in a physical way, but on a conceptual level? Can we expand our paradigms in order to better deal with perennial as well as contemporary problems? In this exhibit, tetrachromacy is a metaphor for being able to see beyond the usual wavelengths of one’s world. The paintings in the show are investigations of geometric compositions with just four colors of differing values. Within these four chromatic registers, I also explore optical illusions of transparency, light, and shadow. These tetradic color effects in my paintings drive the designs, which over time have become more complex, even to the point of incorporating randomness. The exhibition traces this development in my work, presenting a kind of case study of the challenges and successes in trying to form helpful theories, whether they be aesthetic or scientific.