Ratanak Kiri 05 ER22 Painting

Painting tension and emotion. I am a self-taught painter in the informalist tradition of mixing poor materials and paint, three dimensionally and expressively. From my early abstract work, first shown in 1992 at La Valetta Fine Art Museum in Malta, a series of paintings on broken and axed timber panels depicting maps of the United States splashed over with multi chromatic dips, I have been painting energy and drama with cultural critique. I approach my work physically and sensually, and I search compulsively for a plastic expressiveness devoid of post rational conceptual masks. On Works on Paper I experiment with subtle color-field transparencies and japanese inspired calligraphy to transmit vibrancy and depth, with splashed elements of surprise over masking tape folds. On large Burlaps I seek a stronger and more lasting impact to convey the tragedy and drama of existence with an intense textured and layered presence, almost pulsating, that hypnotizes and elevates towards the spiritual.